Prunus laurocerasus

Prunus laurocerasus, also known as Cherry Laurel, is a species of Prunus, native to regions bordering the Black Sea in southwestern Asia and southeastern Europe, from Albania and Bulgaria east through Turkey to the Caucasus Mountains and northern Iran.

Description

The Prunus laurocerasus is an evergreen shrub or small tree, growing to 5 to 15 m tall, rarely to 18 m, with a trunk up to 60 cm broad. The leaves are dark green, leathery, shiny, (5–)10–25(–30) cm long and 4–10 cm broad, with a finely serrated margin. The flowers are produced in racemes of 30–40 at the ends of the branches in mid-spring (May in the British Isles), each flower 1 cm diameter, with five creamy-white petals and numerous yellowish stamens with a sweet smell. The fruit is a small cherry 1–2 cm broad, turning black when ripe in early autumn.

Cultivation and uses

Prunus laurocerasus is a widely cultivated ornamental plant, used for creating hedges and as a component of subtropical "laurel forests". The plant is the source of several popular cultivars. Its leaves can be processed to create Prunus laurocerasus water, which is used in cooking and medicine.

Toxicity

All parts of the plant are poisonous, containing hydrogen cyanide. Ingestion can cause serious discomfort and may be fatal.

See also

• List of poisonous plants
• Prunus