Laurel, Cherry Skip (Schipka) Prunus laurocerasus 'Schipkaensis' Height: 15 feet Spread: 6 feet
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Hardiness Zone: 5b Other Names: English Laurel, Common Laurel Description: A popular compact form of cherry laurel, producing showy, fragrant, erect white spike flowers, black fruit and glossy dark-green leaves; this is one of the hardiest selections, makes a stunning hedge or accent plant, takes pruning very well Ornamental Features Laurel, Cherry Skip (Schipka) features showy racemes of fragrant white flowers rising above the foliage in mid spring. It has attractive dark green evergreen foliage. The glossy pointy leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter. The fruits are showy black drupes displayed in mid summer. Landscape Attributes Laurel, Cherry Skip (Schipka) is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics. Laurel, Cherry Skip (Schipka) is recommended for the following landscape applications; Planting & Growing Laurel, Cherry Skip (Schipka) will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more. This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This plant should be periodically fertilized throughout the active growing season with a specially-formulated acidic fertilizer. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. Special Attributes Evergreens need to be watered during the winter. Our desert climate especially in late winter to early spring evergreens can suffer during next growing season. An easy way to remember check for dryness on the holidays Halloween, Thanksgiving, New Year's Day, Valentines Day & Easter.
