Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken' (Cherry laurel 'Otto Lukyen')

Botanical name

Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken'

Other names

Cherry laurel 'Otto Lukyen', Versailles laurel 'Otto Luyken', Laurel cherry 'Otto Luyken', English laurel 'Otto Luyken'

Genus

Prunus Prunus

Variety or Cultivar

'Otto Luyken' _ 'Otto Luyken' is a spreading, evergreen shrub with narrowly oblong, glossy, dark green leaves, pale green beneath, and, in mid- to late spring, erect racemes of small, cup-shaped, white flowers followed by conical, red fruit turning black when ripe.

Native to

Garden origin

Foliage

Evergreen

Fragrance

Flowers are fragrant.

Habit

Spreading

Toxicity

Leaves and fruit may cause severe discomfort if ingested. Leaves should not be burnt.

Awards

RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)

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Colour

Flower

White in Spring

Foliage

Dark-green in All seasons

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How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Leaf mining moths , Vine weevil , Cherry black fly

Specific diseases

Powdery mildew , Silver leaf

General care

Pruning

Pruning Group 8.

Propagation methods

Hardwood cuttings, Semi-ripe cuttings

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken' (Cherry laurel 'Otto Lukyen') will reach a height of 1m and a spread of 1.5m after 10-20 years.

Suggested uses

Banks and Slopes, Drought Tolerant, Ground Cover, Hedging/Screens, Low Maintenance, Woodland

Cultivation

Plant in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. May become chlorotic on nutrient-poor, shallow chalk. Suitable for low hedges and mass planting.

Soil type

Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Partial Shade, Full Sun

Aspect

North, South, East, West

Exposure

Exposed, Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Hardy (H4)

USDA zones

Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken' (Cherry laurel 'Otto Lukyen')

Common pest name

Chlorotic leafroll of apricot; Chlorotic leafroll of nectarine; Chlorotic leafroll of peach; Decline of Japanese plum; Decline of peach; Dieback of apricot; European stone fruit yellows; European yellows of peach; Italian rosette of peach; Leptonecrosis of plum; MoliŠres disease of cherry; Vein clearing of peach; Vein enlargement of peach

Scientific pest name

Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum

Type

Phytoplasma

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

5

General biosecurity comments

EU regulation appears satisfactory for UK; willing to participate in future review of EU listing.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken' (Cherry laurel 'Otto Lukyen')

Common pest name

grape ground pearl

Scientific pest name

Margarodes vitis

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

5

General biosecurity comments

Main pathway; Vitis spp. plants for planting; already prohibited. However; further consideration of other pathways is required.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken' (Cherry laurel 'Otto Lukyen')

Common pest name

Peach red-necked longhorn; Plum and peach longhorn; red-necked longhorn

Scientific pest name

Aromia bungii

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

A pest mainly of Prunus previously intercepted in the UK on wooden packaging imported from China. There have been longstanding outbreaks of the pest in Italy; a source of significant trade in plants for instant landscapes; and also findings in Germany. The UK will press for early EU regulation and consider UK national measures if risk increases.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/