This is Prunus laurocerasus from the Rosaceae family. It is commonly known as "Cherry laurel" in England, however, in the US it is known as "English laurel".

This is a prime example of why the binomial naming system is so important for the identification of plants. One individual can have multiple common names such as the Prunus laurocerasus or multiple plants can have one common name such as "Bluebell" which in England would refer to Hyacinthoides non-scripta but Campanula rotundifolia in Scotland.

Prunus laurocerasus is an evergreen perennial shrub that can be quite invasive in open ground. We have issues with this at Holywells Park so we prune it back down to ground level annually. As it is on a steep slope we cannot remove the roots as it will cause damage to the soil structure and potentially erode down onto the foot path.

Prunus laurocerasus can make a nice informal garden hedge due to its dense glossy foliage, bushy habit and fragrant flower spikes as well as the berries that turn from red to black, adding autumn interest to the garden. However, if you have children, ensure they will not ingest any of the foliage or berries as they are toxic if eaten.

Height: 8m; Spread: 8m; Hardiness: H6; span: 20-50 years