Common cherry laurel. Cherry laurel is an ornamental and medicinal tree. Caring for cherry laurel at home and reproduction features

Cherry laurel - Laurocerasus officinalis M.Roem. - a small evergreen tree from the Rosaceae family, 4-6 (up to 8) m high. It often has the form of a large shrub 1-3 m tall. The bark of the trunks is dark gray, rough, and in some trees almost black. The leaves are alternate, oblong-elliptic, large, from 5 to 20 cm long and 4-6 cm wide, dark green, thick, leathery, shiny above, matte below, serrated or entire along the edge of the blade, edges slightly curved down, with a prominent midrib, especially at the bottom, with short petioles. The flowers are fragrant, small, about 8 mm in diameter, equipped with short pedicels, collected in dense inflorescences-brushes from 5 to 13 cm long, located in the axils of the leaves. The calyx is in the form of 5 triangular teeth, fused with a goblet receptacle. Corolla of 5 white petals about 3 mm long. There are many stamens in each flower, about 20. The pistil has an upper 1-locular ovary, a long style and a capitate stigma. The fruit is an ovoid black drupe, about 8 mm long, with juicy pulp. The fruit pulp of different trees has a different taste - from sweet, even cloying, to bitter and very bitter. The stone (seed) is ovoid, keeled, smooth. Cherry laurel blooms in April - May, the fruits ripen in July - August.

Cherry laurel distribution.

Cherry laurel grows wild in the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, Iran, the Caucasus, and Talysh. In Russia, this plant is found in the wild only in the Black Sea regions of the Krasnodar Territory. In the Caucasus Mountains, cherry laurel rises to the upper border of the forest, lying at an altitude of 2300-2400 m above sea level. The natural habitats of cherry laurel are dense shady forests of beech, hornbeam, fir, spruce, boxwood, and yew. It forms their undergrowth. Thanks to its good shade tolerance, cherry laurel feels quite comfortable in forests in which other trees and shrubs cannot live due to the darkness caused by the closed tree layer. However, this plant does not suffer from excess sunlight - in cutting areas, cherry laurel grows quickly and forms dense, impenetrable thickets, making it difficult to regenerate the reduced tree species.

Cherry laurel has long been cultivated as an excellent ornamental tree. In the culture, forms with large sweet fruits were selected. On the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, it is sometimes difficult to understand the origin of plants: wild, planted by someone, or wild. Cherry laurel can withstand frosts down to minus 17-20 °C. It is very demanding on environmental humidity - its natural thickets are known only in places where the annual rainfall is at least 600 mm. Prefers areas with fertile brown soils underlying limestone.

Economic use cherry laurel

Cherry laurel is an ornamental plant, bred for its beautiful large leaves and picturesque fruits. It easily tolerates cutting and is suitable for creating hedges and borders. The fruits from cherry laurel trees, which have sweet drupe pulp, are edible, but few people eat them fresh, since the taste is not very familiar. More often, wine and soft drinks are made from the fruits. Cherry laurel leaves are a substitute for such a popular spice as bay leaf. They contain aromatic essential oil and, when broken, smell like bitter almonds. The leaves flavor milk. The leaves contain 5-10%, and the bark 10-11% tannins, which may be of interest for tanning. Cherry laurel flowers produce a lot of nectar, which is why they are visited by bees. However, honey from cherry laurel nectar should not be consumed as food, as it is unsafe for humans (causes poisoning). This is explained by the fact that many organs and tissues of cherry laurel (especially the bark and buds) contain a toxic substance such as hydrocyanic acid, although in small quantities. It is believed that it also ends up in nectar. Medicinal value of cherry laurel and methods of medicinal use.

Cherry laurel leaves have medicinal uses. They contain glycosides, essential oil, tannins, and wax.

The so-called cherry laurel water is prepared from the leaves by distillation with water, which is used as an analgesic and sedative for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The active ingredient is amygdalin glycoside: it decomposes in the intestines to release hydrocyanic acid, which has anesthetic properties.

Sometimes cherry laurel water (cherry laurel drops) is prescribed for certain heart (as a pain reliever) and pulmonary diseases accompanied by cough. This drug is prescribed relatively rarely. It is not recommended to cook it at home. Leaves and cherry laurel water are used to flavor bad-smelling medicines.

In homeopathy, the essence of fresh leaves is used. To avoid cases of self-poisoning, these medications should only be used as prescribed by a doctor. According to Duz, cherry laurel is ruled by Mercury.

Use

• Cherry laurel fruits are edible, especially in large-fruited forms, but due to their cloying taste they are rarely eaten fresh; they are more often used for making wine and soft drinks.
• Cherry laurel extract is also used in official medicine under the name cherry laurel drops. They are prescribed as an analgesic and sedative.
• a mixture of equal parts by weight of leaves of cherry laurel, laurel, eucalyptus, myrtle is tightly sewn into fabric and used as a sleeping pill for 2-3 hours. For severe headaches, you need to lie on such a pillow for 3-5 hours.
• For stomach upset, especially with painful cramps, cherry laurel leaves are used.
• To eliminate headaches, insomnia, and numbness in the hands, you need to take 1 teaspoon of powder from the kernels of cherry laurel fruits, washed down with milk.
• An aqueous emulsion of crushed cherry laurel fruit kernels is used to lubricate the head for baldness, as well as areas of the skin affected by boils.
• An infusion of fresh cherry laurel leaves is used for heart and nervous disorders.

Methods of application

• Mash the cherry laurel fruit kernels with a spoon and then grind with granulated sugar. Use 1 teaspoon 3 times a day after meals for gastrointestinal disorders and sleep disorders.
• 2 tbsp. Brew 500 ml of boiling water for tablespoons of crushed cherry laurel leaves, leave for 15 minutes, strain. Take 2-3 tbsp. spoons for spasmodic pain in the stomach and intestines.
• Use 1 teaspoon of cherry laurel fruit kernels crushed into powder, washed down with fresh milk, for headaches and insomnia.

The leaves contain up to 10 percent tannides, which exhibit an anti-inflammatory effect, and, importantly, tannins, that is, fixatives. Among the Caucasian peoples, cherry laurel leaves are used for indigestion, especially with painful cramps. The bark of the plant contains even more tannins (up to 15%). The healing properties of cherry laurel are largely determined by the presence of the glycoside amygdalin in it; in this respect, it is similar to almonds. A world-recognized way to eliminate headaches, insomnia, and numbness in the hands is powdered almond seeds. The same can be done with cherry laurel seeds. In this case, the powder should be taken 1 teaspoon, washed down with milk. In the Caucasus, an aqueous emulsion of crushed kernels of cherry laurel fruits is used to lubricate the head for baldness, as well as areas of the skin affected by boils. There is information that cherry laurel water, like almond water, is used for heart and nervous disorders.

1. Botanical description
2. Application
3. Landing
4. Reproduction
5. Pests and diseases

This culture is not related to laurel, despite the name and external similarity. Laurel cherry is one of the types of cherries known to everyone, a representative of the Rose family, which includes peach, almond, cherry and apricot. The plant was given an eloquent name because of the characteristic shape of the leaves.

Botanical description

Natural habitats of cherry laurel: the Caucasus, the Balkans, Iran, subtropical territories of Asia Minor, North America.

This is a heat-loving evergreen shrub 4–10 m high with thin long shoots forming a narrow pyramidal crown. Oval, with pointed tips and smooth edges, the leaves have a leathery, smooth surface with feathery veins, and are located alternately on the branches. They are noticeably larger in size than ordinary cherries and more fleshy. The leaf blades reach a length of 17–20 cm and a width of 5–6 cm. Life expectancy is 2 years. Seasonal shedding, as with many broad-leaved species, does not occur; the greenery is renewed gradually, so the branches remain “dressed” even in winter. This is not uncommon for tropical and subtropical crops. Winter temperatures in these areas are rarely low. Typically, in temperate latitudes, this property of plants is an insurmountable obstacle to cultivation in open ground. Cherry laurel is an exception to the rule. Some of its varieties can easily tolerate frosts down to –20 °C, and under protection – up to 25–30 °C. In regions with a climate more severe than in the subtropics, shrubs grow lower - up to 1.5–2 m.

The crop blooms in May. Small five-petalled white corollas with many stamens are collected in fragrant paniculate inflorescences 5–15 cm long. In summer, cherries are tied and ripened on tassels. The fruits, 8–10 mm in diameter, have a recognizable round shape, smooth thin skin of black or dark burgundy color, juicy pulp and a hard stone. They are edible, but sweeter in taste than the usual cherries. The bushes begin to bear fruit at the age of 4–5 years.

Cherry laurel seeds and leaves contain amygdoline and hydrocyanic acid. These toxic compounds are present in varying concentrations in almost all Pinks. When they enter the gastrointestinal tract and are absorbed into the blood, a large amount of them causes acute oxygen starvation and death from suffocation.

Application

Cherry laurel is valuable as an ornamental, fruit-bearing and medicinal crop. Under favorable conditions, its yield reaches 100 kg per adult plant. The pulp of cherries, although quite edible, is too sugary and does not retain freshness for long after picking. More often it is used as a raw material in the wine and confectionery industries.

The leaves of the plant contain fragrant essential oils. After processing, they are used as a natural spice, flavoring food products and pharmaceuticals.

In medicine

Cherry laurel greens, seeds and bark contain a complex of biochemically active substances. In addition to hydrocyanic acid and amygdalin, these are:

• benzaldehyde;
• steroid compounds;
• ascorbic acid;
• phenolcarbolic acids;
• catechins;
• tannins.

Fresh leaves of the plant are used in pharmaceuticals. Cherry laurel water, tinctures and homeopathic preparations are prepared from them. Pharmacy dosage forms have bactericidal, antiviral, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, sedative, and moderate analgesic effects. Hydrocyanic acid, contained in microscopic dosages, dulls the excitability of nerve endings, eliminates irritation of the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory tract, and helps relieve coughing in respiratory diseases.

In folk medicine, infusions from the leaves and bark of the bush are used to treat: headaches, insomnia, neuroses, arrhythmias, gastritis, tuberculosis, cancer, gynecological diseases, helminthiases.

Self-prepared cherry laurel preparations must be treated with great caution. Exceeding their dosage can cause intoxication: severe dizziness, swelling of the mucous membranes of the larynx and trachea, difficulty breathing, surges in blood pressure. Fresh parts of plants that contain a high concentration of hydrocyanic acid are especially dangerous. As the raw material is dried or soaked, this compound disintegrates.

Due to its strong toxicity, cherry laurel should not be used for medicinal purposes by pregnant women, children, or people prone to allergic reactions.

In landscape design

Spectacular glossy leaves, compact dense crowns, dense fragrant clusters of inflorescences and bright clusters of fruits are the advantages of cherry laurel over many garden plants. It can be grown not only for harvest, but also as an ornamental crop. It is good in single and group plantings, and in areas with mild winters with little snow it can be used as hedges. The dense foliage of closely planted shrubs forms continuous green walls; the shoots lend themselves well to pruning and retain their given shape for a long time.

Dwarf varieties look great in combination with coniferous shrubs; they can be used to decorate flower beds or borders.

In regions with cold winters, cherry laurel complements the collection of garden plants, providing shelter from frost and strong winds. It is convenient to grow it as a container greenhouse crop - keep it on heated loggias and terraces.

Kinds

Popular cultivated varieties of berry bushes:

Landing

For growing in open ground in the middle zone, it is necessary to choose the most cold-resistant varieties, for example, medicinal cherry laurel. Plants brought from the south run the risk of dying in the first frosty winter.

For planting, choose areas protected from draft winds - near high fences or trees. The soil is preferably nutritious, neutral, slightly alkaline and loose. The work is carried out in April. The holes for seedlings are prepared wide, 70–80 cm deep. Mineral fertilizers for flowering plants and high-moor peat are added to the soil. A drainage layer of small stones must be placed at the bottom of the pits. When planting, the root collars are left at surface level. Then the plants are watered.

Care

During the active growing season - from April to October - shrubs must be moistened regularly: at least once a week, pouring 10 liters of water under each root. In dry weather - after 2-3 days. In the absence of rain for a long time, it is recommended to refresh the foliage by spraying.

You can feed laurel cherries with a solution of rotted manure, compost and complex mineral fertilizers. You need to add food every month from the first warm days until September.

It is advisable to carry out sanitary pruning of the plant twice a year: in March and October.. The crowns are freed from diseased, drying, freezing branches. Shaping pruning is used optionally if the shrubs are planned to fit into a certain style.

The soil around the seedlings is kept clean and loose, and weeds are removed. With the onset of cold weather, watering and fertilizing are stopped, preparing the shrubs for the dormant period. For the winter, the roots are insulated with a thick layer of peat or agrofibre. Crowns need to be covered only in severe frosts.

Reproduction

When propagating cherry laurel by seed, the material is first kept in the cold at a temperature of +4–6 °C for two months. Before planting, the seeds are soaked for a day in hot water, then planted in containers with a mixture of peat and garden soil. The seedlings are kept indoors, cared for for up to a year, then transferred to permanent places.

Cuttings are the most successful way to preserve all the species characteristics of a plant. For rooting, lignified shoots are cut, cleared of leaves and planted in boxes with a mixture of sand, peat, humus and soil. They are kept in a greenhouse at a temperature not lower than +24 °C. Rooted cuttings are grown in pots throughout the year.

To obtain 1–2 new copies of cherry laurel, air layering is used. The selected branch is cut and pinned to the soil, sprinkled with soil. Before the cuttings take root, they are watered and fed together with the donor. At the end of summer, the shoot can be cut off and transplanted to a new location.

Renew the old plant and root shoots. After removing the bush, you need to leave a short stump of about 3–5 cm. Next year, young shoots will go up from it. When they reach a height of 25–30 cm, you can hill them up and start watering. By autumn, the offspring will have their own roots; just remove the plants from the soil and plant them.

Pests and diseases

Whitish spots on cherry laurel greens may be signs of powdery mildew. You can help the plant by washing the crowns with a soap solution or fungicidal preparations containing sulfur. When the leaves are attacked by scale insects or mealyworms, the bushes are treated twice a week with insecticides: Aktar, Aktellik, Fufanon. It is recommended to purchase several types of products and alternate them. The soil around the trunks also needs to be sprayed. Corroded parts of the shoots must be removed.

I grow cherry laurel for beauty, but I recently learned that it has medicinal properties. Caring for the shrub is simple: you need to add water on time, remove weeds, and loosen the soil. Cherry laurel positively perceives organic matter and preparations for flowering crops (I advise you to apply them in accordance with the instructions).

In this article I talk about planting and the beneficial properties of the plant. Some parts of cherry laurel are poisonous and therefore unsuitable for food. I present to your attention a photo of an ornamental shrub.

Cherry laurel is a small evergreen shrub. Its fruits are used in folk medicine, as they contain vitamins, microelements, tannins, and medicinal oils. Cherry laurel belongs to the Rozanov family.

The plant was first discovered in the Caucasus; today it can be found in Europe and Asia. Cherry laurel is thermophilic and thrives in temperate climates.

The shrub growing in natural conditions reaches a height of 9.5 m! Its roots are massive, its branches are smooth, and its leaves are dark green.

Cherry laurel blooms when it reaches four years of age: it forms original flowers that look like candles. Each of them has a calyx, corolla, stamen and petals. The flowering shrub is beautiful; it emits a very delicate aroma.

The fruit is presented in the form of a small fleshy drupe, which can be white, red, pink. The berry tastes sweet and sour. It should be remembered that the seeds and bark of the plant are poisonous! With proper care, cherry laurel produces a rich harvest. From one bush the gardener receives 90 - 100 kg of fruit.

Cherry laurel is a very popular crop. Its fruits are used not only in folk medicine, but also in winemaking. To ensure that the plant always looks attractive, it is adjusted.

The medicinal laurel cherry is a shrub up to 3 m high. It is resistant to cold, grows well in the shade and bears fruit abundantly. At first glance, it may seem that cherry laurel is not capricious, however, it makes high demands on the soil.

The shrub prefers loam with a small amount of lime. In general, cherry laurel has a number of advantages. Gardeners value it for its decorative properties and resistance to cold weather.

How to propagate shrubs

Let's talk about seed propagation. Cherry laurel seeds should be used immediately after collection, as they are unsuitable for storage. Choose a spacious container, fill it with soil mixture, place the seeds to a depth of 1 cm and sprinkle.

Planting material should be kept in the refrigerator under film. After 2.5 months you will need to remove the container.

Seed germination is carried out at a temperature of + 26 degrees. In the spring, transplant the seedlings to a permanent bed. If you do not initially store the crops in the refrigerator, the seedlings will grow large and form large roots.

Cherry laurel seedlings with a small root system take root better in the garden.

A friend of mine propagates cherry laurel from cuttings. In the twentieth of June, he trims shoots without woody bark and divides them into shoots 10 cm in size. Shoots that do not have leaves are ideal for planting, so I advise you to remove them. Planting material takes root in a soil mixture of peat, humus and clean sand, taken in equal proportions.

The cuttings need to be buried 2.5 - 4 cm, and expanded clay should be placed at the bottom of the pots (or a common container), which will serve as drainage. Cuttings must be kept in greenhouse conditions. Remember that they should not suffer from exposure to the scorching sun. In hot weather, planting material should be watered 1-2 times a day.

After the cuttings have formed a root system, they will need to be planted in separate containers. Picking should be done carefully, it is important not to injure the roots! Cuttings allow you to preserve the varietal qualities of the shrub.

Keeping at home

Miniature plants should still be indoors. They develop favorably at a temperature of + 24 degrees. In summer, you can periodically take them out into the garden or onto the balcony. Plants should be protected from direct sunlight, as they can burn the leaf blade.

Cherry laurel prefers loose, fertile soil; it is not recommended to choose acidic soil.

If you wish, prepare the substrate yourself: mix leaf soil and mullein in equal proportions, add the same amount of humus. Be sure to place drainage at the bottom of the pot!

Cherry laurel requires regular but moderate watering. I advise you to add water as the substrate dries. Overmoistening is dangerous for any ornamental crops, as it leads to rotting of the roots. Excess moisture predisposes to powdery mildew disease.

In winter, the plant needs to be watered once every 12 days. From mid-spring to early autumn you need to feed the bush. I fertilize once every 30 days, using mineral preparations and organic matter. One square meter requires 6 kg.

Planting in the garden, further care

The plant is planted in open ground in early March; a suitable bed is first selected. The size of the trench for cherry laurel should be 80 cm. Planting should be done so that the root collar is above the soil surface, then compact the soil and add water.

As I already said, the shrub prefers illuminated areas, but can also grow among trees. I advise you to adjust the cherry laurel in early February. Some gardeners plant perennials to create hedges.

In this case, you need to adjust it once every 6 months: at the beginning of April and the end of August. If you see weakened or dried branches, remove them immediately!

In early April, the bush begins to actively grow. From the 15th of this month until the beginning of September, I advise you to apply fertilizers intended for flowering ornamental crops: 4 kg of mineral preparations per 1 sq. m.

The plant should not receive nitrogen in large quantities, otherwise its cold resistance will decrease. Abuse of nitrogenous preparations is dangerous, as it can lead to the death of the entire bush.

Cherry laurel requires moderate watering. In summer you should add water once a week, in winter - once every 15 days. Stagnation of water near the roots is unacceptable! Let me remind you that the bark and seeds contain poison, for this reason the plant is rarely attacked by pests.

Sometimes cherry laurel suffers from powdery mildew. The disease manifests itself as whitish spots on the leaf blades. If you notice signs of powdery mildew, apply fungicides to the damaged areas. As an alternative, sulfur preparations can be used.

Powdery mildew develops in conditions of high humidity. To avoid disease, you need to water the bush moderately. Cherry laurel is rarely affected by:

• mealybug;
• scale insect;

Insecticides are used to control pests.

Read more about the benefits of cherry laurel

The leaves of the plant are actively used in folk medicine. They contain valuable oils, flavonoids, acids, and tannins. Cherry laurel leaves have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects and are used to treat diseases of the central nervous system.

Decoctions based on medicinal raw materials promote the discharge of sputum in case of respiratory tract pathologies. They also normalize the functions of the cardiovascular system and have an antitumor effect.

To improve the functions of the gastrointestinal tract and overcome insomnia, you need to prepare a medicine with fruits. Crush a handful of seedless berries with sugar, take 10 g of the mixture 2 times a day.

For pathologies of the stomach and intestines, decoctions are prepared from dried leaves: 30 g of raw materials are poured with boiling water in an amount of 270 ml. The medicine becomes ready in 15 minutes. It is filtered before use.

Any products based on cherry laurel should be taken with the permission of a doctor! Self-medication is strictly contraindicated. The fact is that all parts of the plant contain potent components. Uncontrolled therapy can lead to allergies, diarrhea, vomiting, headaches and increased blood pressure.

Cherry laurel is the most famous species of this plant and belongs to the Rosaceae family. It is an evergreen shrub up to 3 meters in height; sometimes there is a tree up to 5 meters in height.

The oblong leaves are glossy, shiny on top, matte below, have an elliptical shape, pointed, up to 15 cm in length. The flowers are small, white, have a pleasant aroma, and are collected in a racemose inflorescence. Flowering period is April-May. Cherry laurel bears fruit at the end of August. The fruits, like the flowers, are collected in a raceme.

Cherry laurel is a shade-tolerant plant and winter-hardy, able to withstand frosts down to -25 degrees.
The plant is very common in the Western Caucasus. In the forests you can find simply impenetrable thickets of cherry laurel. Prefers moist soil. Now actively cultivated in the south of Russia. Propagates well by cuttings and seeds.

Cherry laurel fruits are quite edible. But since they have a sugary taste, they are not often eaten. They are used to make wine and tonic drinks.

Chemical composition

The seeds and leaves of cherry laurel contain amygdalin glycosides and hydrocyanic acid, which make them, to some extent, toxic. The leaves contain essential oil, tannids, which exhibit an anti-inflammatory effect, tannins, flavonoids, catechins, phytoncides, proanthocyanidins, vitamin C.
The presence of the medicinal glycoside amygdalin in cherry laurel determines its certain similarity to almonds.

Due to the presence of a large amount of essential oil in the leaves, they are used as a substitute for bay leaves and as a flavoring agent for dairy products, giving the smell of bitter almonds.

Beneficial properties of cherry laurel

The leaves and fruits of the plant are used in medicine in the form of medicinal tinctures, cherry laurel water, and oil. Nitrogen-containing toxic substances present in the plant are used in small doses as immunomodulators.

Fresh cherry laurel leaves, cut from a tree in mid-summer, are distilled with water steam, and thus cherry laurel water is obtained. It is used as an analgesic and sedative for insomnia, rapid heartbeat, and heart attacks.
The leaves of the plant are also used for stomach pain, especially if it is accompanied by cramps.

In the Caucasus, it is recommended to use cherry laurel with other plants. For example, equal quantities of leaves of cherry laurel, eucalyptus, myrtle, bay leaf are sewn into fabric and a sleeping pill is obtained, which is used for 2-3 hours.

In official medicine, cherry laurel drops are used - cherry laurel extract. They are used as a sedative and pain reliever.

An aqueous emulsion from crushed fruit kernels is used for rubbing against baldness, as well as for lubricating areas of skin affected by boils.

An infusion of fresh leaves of the plant helps with nervous disorders.

Forms of application

When using cherry laurel preparations prepared at home yourself, you should be especially careful, monitor the permissible dosage and remember that cherry laurel is a poisonous plant.

Cherry laurel is a useful cultivated plant. The name comes from a combination of the words “laurel” and “cherry”. It was invented by Pierre Belon, a famous botanist who discovered this plant. The cherry laurel leaves really resemble laurel, and the berries are like small cherries. It is considered useful and has decorative qualities, but is grown mainly in warm regions.

What is cherry laurel

Cherry laurel is a low, evergreen crop, a species of the Cherry subgenus, Prunus genus of the Rosaceae family. In 1546, the plant was brought from Constantinople to Europe, and already in 1629 the crop began to be actively grown in the southern regions, where it took root without problems.

Interesting!

Cherry laurel is often mentioned in literary works. In Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet, hydrocyanic acid obtained from this plant was used to make the poison that poisoned Romeo.

The peak of popularity of cherry laurel dates back to the 17th-19th centuries. At this time, it was distributed almost throughout the world, and where it could not be grown, it was massively imported by traders due to high demand. At that time, it was used instead of Corvalol and for the treatment of many diseases, but due to a possible overdose, the drug was soon abandoned. Today it is sometimes used in folk medicine and pharmacology.

Description of culture

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Different types of cherry laurel may look slightly different. The plant belongs to the genus Plum, subgenus Cherry and the Rosaceae family. Grown primarily in warm regions, such as East Asia, the Mediterranean, South and Middle America.

Interesting!

Cherry laurel berries are often used to make homemade jam and tonic drinks. The pulp of the berries is tasty and non-toxic, so such dishes are quite safe.

The tree grows up to 10 meters in height. The crown is compact but dense. All parts of the crop except the pulp of the berries are poisonous. The roots are well developed, and the main ones are very deep. Old branches are rough and gray in color, while young ones are green, with a light fluff. The leaves are 8-25 cm long, oval with a sharp tip, growing on short petioles. The foliage color is rich green, the front side is leathery and shiny.

The inflorescences are an axillary raceme up to 5-13 cm. The flowers are small, white, held on short stalks, and have a pleasant, strong aroma. Flowering occurs in April-May. The berries are ovoid, up to 0.8 cm in length, black. The stone is also ovoid. The taste of the berries is sweet, the aroma is not very pronounced. The berries ripen in August.

The best varieties of cherry laurel

There are three main varieties of cherry laurel. Each species has its own unique qualities.

• Cherry laurel – the most common type of cherry laurel. It is unpretentious and has decorative qualities. The plant is a compact bush up to 2 meters in height. Grows on almost any type of soil. There is resistance to severe drought, heat and short-term frosts.
• Louisiana cherry laurel grows as a tall, conical bush. Loves warm climates and can cause a lot of trouble when growing. This decorative species requires proper lighting, plenty of sun, moderate humidity, normal or alkaline soil. If you do not follow the rules of care or planting, the plant will quickly die.
• Portuguese cherry laurel – a late variety, flowering occurs only in mid-June. It grows as a tree, up to 5 m high. The crown is wide and dense. The leaves are shiny and green. The inflorescences are small, the berries are dark burgundy.

Among the varieties of this plant, there are several of the most popular.

• Rotundifolia – a compact variety of medicinal cherry laurel. The branches grow strictly vertically. The leaves are dark green, shiny, 10-15 cm long. The berries are black. The plant tolerates drought well and grows on any soil, even rocky soil, but needs plenty of sunlight.
• Herbergery - another variety of medicinal cherry laurel, common in the Caucasus, the Black Sea coast, and the Balkans. It grows as a bush, up to 4 meters and about 3 meters wide. The berries are typical, ovoid, dark burgundy in color. The variety tolerates heat and drought well, but does not tolerate strong winds and dies in frosts.
• Mount Vernon – decorative bush of dwarf type. The shoots are long and creeping. The bush grows up to 50 cm in height, but its width can reach up to 1.5 meters. The leaves are simple, leathery, up to 8 cm long with jagged edges. This species is suitable for growing in shade and sunny areas, but does not produce berries. Requires shelter for the winter.
• Otto Luyken – a dwarf variety with a spherical crown up to 80 cm in height. This is a decorative species with green leaves and lush, beautiful inflorescences. It has average winter hardiness and can grow in sun or shade.

How to propagate a plant

Cherry laurel can be propagated using a variety of methods.

• Seed propagation. To do this, the seeds are first hardened at +4...+6 degrees for 60 days, then soaked in hot water for one day. Planting is carried out in a mixture of peat and garden soil. The seeds germinate quite quickly. Young sprouts are kept in room conditions for up to a year. After this, you can transplant them to the site.
• Cuttings are the simplest propagation option. To do this, woody shoots are cut, cleaned of leaves and planted in boxes with a mixture of peat, soil and humus. They are grown in greenhouse conditions for up to a year, then transplanted.

• Air layering can produce several new plants. To do this, in the spring, a certain branch is selected, cut (to allow the root to emerge), bent down and covered with earth. Around the end of August, it will be possible to cut off the young culture from the mother one, and replant it next year.
• Cherry laurel can also be propagated by root shoots. Old trees are usually not uprooted, but cut off, leaving a stump up to 5 cm in height. Next year it will produce young shoots. When they reach 30 cm, they begin to be watered and hilled. Over time, the shoots will acquire their own roots, and they can be removed from the ground and transplanted to a permanent place.

Planting and growing

Any variety of cherry laurel is suitable for cultivation in the southern regions, but in the middle zone only those varieties that can withstand cold weather, for example medicinal cherry laurel, can be cultivated. The landing site must be protected from strong winds. At the same time, a sunny, well-lit area with nutritious, slightly alkaline or neutral soil is selected.

Planting always occurs in April. The pit is made up to 80 cm deep and a meter wide. A complex of minerals for flowering plants and peat are added to the soil for planting. Drainage is made at the bottom of the hole, and a peg for garter is installed. During planting, a mound of earth is poured into a hole, a seedling is placed on it - the root collar should be level with the top layer of soil. After the roots have fallen asleep, the plant is tied to a stake and watered abundantly.

Interesting!

Cherry laurel is a honey plant. But the honey obtained from it is poisonous and is not used for food.

• Watering is carried out as needed. The earth should not dry out, but puddles are also excluded! From April to October, regular watering is required - about a bucket of water per week. If the weather is dry, then water the plant every 2-3 days.
• If there has been no rain for a long time, then it is advisable to sprinkle on top of the leaves. This procedure is done exclusively in the evening.
• Fertilizing is carried out with a solution of humus, compost or complex minerals. They are applied once a month, from the first warm spring days until September.
• Pruning is necessary sanitary. They do it 2 times per season - in May and October. Cut off damaged, dry, diseased branches and those that grow incorrectly. Formative pruning is carried out as desired. The crown of this tree grows neatly on its own. But if necessary, you can give the tree a certain shape.
• The soil in the root zone is kept clean. Weeds and garbage are excluded! In addition, you need to loosen the soil regularly so that oxygen reaches the roots.
• The plant can be affected by powdery mildew, scale insects, and mealy worms. To avoid this, preventive spraying is carried out with fungicides containing sulfur and insecticides such as Aktara and Fufanon.
• When the first cold weather sets in, watering is stopped. The root zone should be mulched with a thick layer of peat. In severe frosts, the crown is wrapped in insulating material.

The benefits and harms of cherry laurel

Cherry laurel has been used in folk medicine for centuries. She has many positive qualities.

• Helps with inflammatory processes in the respiratory system, cough.
• The phytoncides in the plant have an antimicrobial effect, so the culture is used for internal bleeding.
• Treats diseases of the cardiovascular system.
• For gastrointestinal diseases, it can reduce the sensitivity of pain receptors in the mucous membrane and weaken peristalsis.

The main medicinal substance in cherry laurel is hydrocyanic acid. It is indeed very effective, but an overdose leads to poisoning!

• The beneficial properties of cherry laurel are also used to treat diseases of the skin and mucous membranes.
• It is effective for nervous system disorders and spasms.
• It is a strong anthelmintic.

In folk medicine, for the treatment of ailments and prevention, freshly picked leaves and berries of the plant are used. Most often, medicinal cherry laurel water is made from them. It is used to create lotions, rub the skin, and take it orally or by inhalation. Essential oils are used rarely, with precise concentrations. If essential oil is used incorrectly, overdose is possible!

Despite the beneficial properties of the plant, one must not forget that it is a poisonous crop. The plant contains a lot of hydrocyanic acid, which is useful only in low concentration. If you consume it in excess of the norm, severe poisoning occurs, and in some cases, death. The main signs of poisoning are shortness of breath, hoarse voice, and difficulty breathing. This plant is contraindicated for use in any form by pregnant, lactating women and children.