Centre Court™ Cherry Laurel

Light Needs

Part Sun to Full Sun

(5+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

30 Feet

Mature Spread

1-3 Feet

Growing Zones

7 to 10

Centre Court™ Cherry Laurel gives the landscape a tall evergreen wall with glossy foliage that stays handsome through winter. This Prunus caroliniana 'GRECCT' selection carries fragrant white flower clusters in spring, followed by small black drupes that birds may visit in summer. Its dense pyramidal habit can mature 20 to 30 feet tall and about 15 feet wide, making it useful for full privacy. It is especially valuable along open property lines because the foliage stays full near the ground.

Carolina cherry laurel is a North American native species, and this selection keeps a tidy, upright form with moderate growth. The dark green leaves emerge with coppery-bronze tones in spring before deepening as the season warms. It handles heat, urban conditions, and brief dry periods once established, while still preferring average to evenly moist soil. Use it for screening, windbreaks, broad borders, or as a single evergreen accent where a narrow tree-like shrub fits the scale.

Centre Court™ Cherry Laurel Care

Plant Centre Court™ Cherry Laurel in full sun to partial shade, with the densest branching developing in stronger light. It adapts to clay or loamy soil when drainage is dependable. Slightly acidic to neutral soil is best, though it can tolerate mildly alkaline conditions in rich, prepared beds.

Water new plantings deeply when the top few inches of soil begin to dry, especially during heat, wind, or the first growing season. Established shrubs need supplemental water during extended dry spells or when leaves flag in the afternoon and do not rebound by morning. Mulch over the root zone to conserve moisture while keeping mulch away from the trunk. Feed in early spring and again in early fall with an all-purpose fertilizer, following the label rate.

Prune after flowering so spring buds are not removed before they open. Light shearing can keep a hedge even, while selective thinning helps open crowded interior branches without stripping the plant. Young container-grown plants should have winter root protection in zone 7, since pots expose roots to colder temperatures than garden soil.

Centre Court™ Cherry Laurel Spacing

Space Centre Court™ Cherry Laurel 10 to 12 feet apart for a dense privacy screen, or closer to 15 feet apart when each tree should show more of its natural pyramidal shape. Keep it at least 8 to 10 feet from walks, drives, and structures so the mature spread has room. For containers, start with a large 20- to 24-inch pot for young plants, use a well-draining potting mix, and expect more frequent watering than in the ground.

In large containers, pair a young laurel with sedge or creeping liriope at the rim because both tolerate filtered sun and consistent moisture without competing for height. For large beds, sweetspire and fothergilla suit the same acidic to neutral soil range and add seasonal texture below the evergreen canopy. Hellebores are a strong choice along the part-shade edge of the planting, and ajuga can fill lower spaces where soil stays evenly moist but not saturated.

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