Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken' – Compact Evergreen Hedging
Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken' – Compact Evergreen Hedging
Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken' – Elegant Compact Laurel
A compact, spreading evergreen shrub prized for its glossy dark green foliage and profuse display of fragrant white flower spikes in spring. Its low, dense growth habit makes it ideal for low hedging, ground cover, and front-of-border plantings where space is limited.
Key Features
- Fragrant white flower spikes in April-May
- Compact, spreading growth habit
- Glossy evergreen foliage year-round
- Black berries follow flowers
- Excellent for low hedging and ground cover
Growing Conditions
Position & Soil
Thrives in full sun to full shade. Prefers moist, well-drained soil but tolerates a wide range of conditions including clay, chalk, and dry shade once established.
Height & Spread
Mature height: 1-1.2m (3-4ft). Spread: 1.5-2m (5-6.5ft). Slower and more compact than the species, making it ideal for smaller gardens.
Care & Maintenance
Pruning
Minimal pruning required. Trim lightly after flowering to maintain shape. Can be clipped for formal low hedging. Avoid autumn pruning to preserve flower buds.
Hardiness
Fully hardy (RHS H5). Suitable for most UK gardens, tolerates temperatures down to -15°C and exposed positions.
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Planting Instructions
Plant in any well-drained soil in full sun to full shade. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and to the same depth. Remove the plant from its container, tease out any circling roots, and position so the top of the rootball sits level with the surrounding soil.
Backfill with excavated soil mixed with organic compost, firm in well, and water thoroughly. For low hedging, space plants 60–75cm apart. Apply a 5cm mulch of bark around the base, keeping clear of the stem.
Water regularly through the first growing season. Once established, Otto Luyken is drought-tolerant and largely self-sufficient. Trim lightly after flowering in May to maintain a neat, compact form.
Size & Specification
Supplied as a pot-grown specimen ready for year-round planting. Compact, spreading habit with mature height of 1–1.2m and spread of 1.5–2m. Slower-growing than the Cherry Laurel species, making it ideal for smaller gardens and low boundary hedging.
Hardy to -15°C (RHS H5). Suitable for all UK gardens including exposed and shaded positions.
Delivery & Dispatch
Dispatched as a pot-grown plant via our standard courier service. Plants are carefully packaged to protect foliage and roots during transit.
Typically dispatched within 3–5 working days of ordering. You will receive tracking information once your order has been collected. Delivery to mainland UK addresses only.
Wildlife & Ecological Notes
Otto Luyken provides good year-round wildlife value despite its compact size. The dense evergreen canopy offers nesting cover and shelter for small birds and beneficial insects throughout the year.
Profuse fragrant white flower spikes in April and May are highly attractive to bees and early pollinators. The small black berries that follow are taken by blackbirds and thrushes in autumn.