Skip Cherry Laurel

Light Needs

Part Sun to Full Sun

(5+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

10 Feet

Mature Spread

5-6 Feet

Growing Zones

7 to 10

Skip Cherry Laurel is a strong privacy plant for places where many evergreen hedges thin out in shade. Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis' grows with glossy, narrow green leaves on an upright, vase-shaped shrub that can be clipped into a dense screen or left looser for a woodland edge. Fragrant white flower spikes arrive in spring, followed by dark fruit that birds may visit when the plant is not heavily sheared. We rely on this laurel for shaded property lines because it gives height, year-round coverage, and a cleaner clipped look than broader-leaved cherry laurels.

This cultivar is named for the Schipka mountain pass and is valued for better cold hardiness than many common cherry laurel forms. It grows quickly once established, often becoming a substantial hedge in just a few seasons with water and pruning. Skip Cherry Laurel tolerates sun, partial shade, urban conditions, and a range of soils, but it should not sit in wet ground. Use it for privacy screens, windbreaks, background planting, woodland borders, or a tall evergreen hedge where arborvitae would look too stiff.

Skip Cherry Laurel Care

Plant Skip Cherry Laurel in full sun to partial shade, with more shade helpful in hot summer regions. It grows in clay, loam, sandy, rocky, or organically enriched soil as long as drainage is good. Soil pH can range from acidic to alkaline, though a deep, fertile, moisture-retentive soil gives the fastest hedge fill-in.

Water newly planted Skip Cherry Laurel deeply once or twice weekly during dry weather while roots are settling. After establishment, it tolerates dry spells, but leaves that droop or curl during heat are asking for a slow soak at the root zone. Feed in spring with a balanced shrub and tree fertilizer, using a lighter hand because heavy fertilization can encourage weak growth and reduce plant quality.

Prune after flowering in spring to shape hedges and avoid removing the seasonal bloom display. For a dense hedge, trim lightly but regularly while plants are young, keeping the top a little narrower than the base so lower branches receive light. Leaves, stems, and seeds are toxic if eaten, so place this shrub thoughtfully around pets, children, and livestock.

Skip Cherry Laurel Spacing

Space Skip Cherry Laurel 3 to 4 feet apart for a formal hedge, or 5 to 7 feet apart for a looser privacy screen with room between plants. For growing in containers, use a pot at least 22 inches wide with drainage holes, and expect more frequent watering than in-ground plants.

Great landscape partners include boxwoods, spirea, euonymus shrubs, and holly bushes to create a layered evergreen and flowering border. In shade containers, use coleus or begonias near the base for seasonal color while the laurel provides height.

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