Cherry Laurel 'Otto Luyken' Shrub (1 Gal) - Hardy, fragrant, beautful shrub perfect for hedge plantings!

SKU: SBCL001
Regular price $24.95
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Description

Once the powerful fragrance of its abundant large white flowers is seen and enjoyed for the first, even the most avid gardeners are sold on planting an Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel! The delicious aroma of these linear blossoms is strongly reminiscent of both almonds and maraschino cherries. Although fragrance is likely the primary reason this evergreen shrub is planted, there are numerous other great qualities about this Cherry Laurel! The foliage also emits the same almond/cherry fragrance when crushed or pruned. Shiny, lustrous evergreen leaves continuously add life and color to planting locations, especially in gray winter months. Because these large leaves are especially glossy, they strongly reflect sunlight and literally brighten up landscapes by redirecting light like a mirror! For this reason, Otto Luyken is especially suited to neighbor other plants with colorful flowers since its foliage sends extra light to brighten their color! While typical Cherry Laurels can grow quite large, Otto Luyken is a dwarfing cultivar that only reaches up to four feet in height. This shrub grows much more in width than height as it can reach up to an eight foot spread! This tendency to spread while remaining low is what has led to its historical popularity as a hedge plant, requiring significantly little maintenance. The Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel was named for the German World War 1 veteran who developed this shrub while finding solace in horticulture during peacetime. This Cherry Laurel reaches up to four feet in height, eight feet in width, and lives best in USDA Hardiness Zones five through nine. Please note that Cherry Laurels are poisonous if ingested and please take care if planting in a yard around small children. With its abundance of highly fragrant and massive white blossoms, shiny evergreen leaves, as well as dwarfing qualities, Otto Luyken can be used to fill innumerable roles in a landscape beyond hedging!

What's great about the Otto Luyken Cherry Laurel?
  • Highly fragrant blossoms smell like almonds and maraschino cherries!
  • Shiny, lustrous evergreen leaves continuously add life and color to planting locations.
  • Glossy foliage strongly reflects sunlight and literally brightens up landscapes!
  • A dwarfing cultivar that only reaches up to four feet in height.
  • Reflects sunlight to brighten nearby flowers!

Frequently Asked Questions

How big will it get?

It varies a lot, from low groundcover junipers to arborvitae that can reach 30 feet or more, and this page lists the size for this plant. Plan for its full spread, not the size of the pot.

How far apart should I plant a hedge?

Set plants a little closer together than they'd spread on their own, measured center to center. For example, a shrub that spreads 4 feet wide goes about 3½ feet apart.

Why is it turning brown?

Some browning after planting or after a hard winter is common in young evergreens. Both come down to water: a root ball that dried out, or winter sun and wind pulling water from the leaves while the roots sit in frozen soil. Water deeply through fall until the ground freezes, and wait for spring growth before you trim, since buds under brown tips can still be alive. Mild winter bronzing on boxwood almost always greens up in spring. Narrow black streaks on green boxwood stems are different, so send us photos.

Is it deer resistant?

It depends on the plant. Deer seldom do serious damage to spruces, most junipers or boxwood. They browse arborvitae and yews heavily, especially in winter, and occasionally do serious damage to blue hollies and Japanese hollies like Sky Pencil. Where deer are common, a wire-mesh cage around a young plant stops browsing.

When can I trim it?

Most evergreens hold their shape with little or no trimming. If you do trim, skip late summer and fall, because cuts then push tender new growth that winter can burn. Take out winter-browned tips in spring, once new growth shows you what's alive.

Do I need a male holly for berries?

Yes, for female hollies. Blue Princess, Castle Spire and Red Beauty set their red berries only with a male holly nearby that blooms at the same time, such as Blue Boy or Castle Wall. One male can serve three to five females, planted within about 300 feet.

What does the gallon size mean?

It's the size of the nursery pot the plant ships in, not the plant's height. A 1-gallon plant ships in a 1-gallon pot. The plant itself varies by variety and by season.

It arrived wilted or dropped some leaves. Is it OK?

A few days in a dark box is stressful for a leafy plant, and some yellow or dropped leaves are common. Water it if the soil is dry, give it a few days in bright shade, then move it into more sun over a week or two. New leaves usually follow. If it looks damaged or unhealthy beyond a few leaves, contact us that day with photos.

How do I plant it?

Plant when the ground isn't frozen, and not during a heat wave. Loosen any roots circling the root ball, and set the top of the root ball level with the ground or slightly above it. Water it in well.

How often should I water it? The label says drought tolerant.

Check the soil every few days for the first few months, and water when the root ball is dry. A new shrub counts as established once its roots spread as wide as its branches, which usually takes at least two growing seasons. Until then, it depends on you for water, even if the label says drought tolerant.