Volcano Cherry Laurel

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

4-7 Feet

Mature Spread

4-5 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 9

Volcano Cherry Laurel is a hard-working evergreen that pulls double duty as a beautiful backdrop and a reliable privacy screen. New growth on Prunus laurocerasus 'JONG1' opens dark red to bronze before maturing to glossy green, so the hedge has color even before spring bloom. Fragrant white flower spikes appear in spring, followed by small black ornamental fruit that can draw birds later in the season. Our favorite use is a shorter privacy planting along a driveway or property line, where the rounded 4- to 7-foot habit stays full.

Bred by Dr. Josza Miklos in Hungary, this selection has been noted for improved cold hardiness and heat tolerance compared with many broadleaf evergreens. It grows at a moderate pace with a compact, bushy outline and leathery foliage that keeps its presence through winter. Volcano® Cherry Laurel also tolerates urban pollution, coastal exposure, road salt, and dry shade once established, though it performs best where drainage is not soggy. Use it for clipped hedges, informal screens, evergreen structure near patios, or repeated masses behind spring and summer perennials.

Volcano Cherry Laurel Care

Plant Volcano® Cherry Laurel in full sun to partial sun, with afternoon shade helpful in hot southern gardens. It grows in sand, clay, or loam as long as the site is moist but well-drained, not wet for long periods. Slightly acidic to neutral soil is suitable, and fertile, humus-rich ground will support the densest foliage.

Water deeply during the first growing season whenever the top few inches of soil begin to dry. Once established, it handles lower water conditions, including dry shade, but leaf droop or dull foliage is a sign to water before stress builds. Feed in early spring with a balanced shrub fertilizer. Cherry laurel remains evergreen through winter in suitable zones.

Prune after flowering to shape hedges or shorten stray branches without removing the next spring’s display too early. Shearing works for formal screens, while hand-pruning gives a looser border plant a cleaner outline. In colder parts of zone 6, plant where winter wind is reduced and keep containers protected from repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

Volcano Cherry Laurel Spacing

Space Volcano® Cherry Laurel 4 to 5 feet apart for a dense hedge or privacy screen, and give single specimens room to mature to their natural rounded width. Use a large container at least 20 to 24 inches wide with drainage holes if growing it on a patio.

When planting Volcano in the landscape, pair it with agapanthus, coneflower, Indian hawthorn, or crape myrtle for seasonal bloom in front of the evergreen foliage. For containers, combine with liriope, pansies, or calibrachoa around the base so the planting looks finished while the shrub fills in.

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