Hedging
Prunus laurocerasus 'Genolia'
Upright cherry laurel
A narrow, upright cherry laurel with dark glossy leaves. 'Genolia' gives a tall, slim evergreen screen where space is limited.
Narrow, upright habit
Dark, glossy evergreen leaves
Ideal for tall, slim screens
Hardy and tough
Please check before you visit. Our nursery is very well stocked, but what we hold changes with the seasons, so this plant may not always be in stock. Enquire before you head over and we will check availability and the sizes we have for you.
At a glance
Type
Hedging
Foliage
Evergreen
Seasons of interest
Year-round foliage
Growth rate
Moderate to fast
Hedge height
Suits hedges from about 1.5 m to 4 m, narrow
Position
Full sun or partial shade
Soil
Most soils, avoid waterlogged ground
Hardiness
Fully hardy in the UK
Available
A range of sizes, from value hedging plants to large instant hedging for an immediate result. Ask our team for current availability and pricing.
Why we love 'Genolia'
If you want laurel privacy in a narrow space, 'Genolia' is the one. Prunus laurocerasus 'Genolia' grows upwards in a slim column where common laurel spreads wide, so you get a dense evergreen screen without giving up half the garden.
Its leaves are smaller, narrower and darker than the familiar 'Rotundifolia', with neatly toothed edges, which gives a finer, more tailored hedge. It branches densely from the base so it stays leafy to the ground, and it's notably cold hardy, holding its looks on exposed, windy sites. In spring, lightly trimmed plants carry spikes of small white flowers for bees.
Choosing a size
Plants of 80 to 100cm are a budget-friendly start that grows up quickly, and 125 to 150cm gives a solid, narrow boundary from the first season. For privacy at the classic six-foot boundary, start at 150 to 200cm and you'll be screened straight away. Taller plants suit overlooked gardens. Clipped, it's kept at 1.5 to 4m tall and only 50 to 80cm deep.
How many per metre depends on how wide the plants are when they arrive: divide 100 by the width in centimetres. A 50cm wide plant goes in at 2 per metre. Because 'Genolia' is naturally narrow, it goes in a little closer than broad laurels, and a single row is all you need. The calculator above works it out for you, and the team will check the spacing on every order.
Planting
Autumn is best, October to November, while the soil is warm and moist. Root-balled plants go in from October to March, and pot-grown plants almost any time with watering. Plant about 40cm in from fences, walls and paths. Dig a trench 50 to 60cm wide and as deep as the root balls, mix in well-rotted organic matter, and keep the top of the root ball level with the soil. Water deeply, mulch with peat-free mulch and stake tall plants on windy sites. It hates waterlogged ground, and on thin, shallow chalk, Portuguese laurel is the better choice.
Looking after it
Water deeply once a week in dry weather for the first two summers. Because it grows up rather than out, it needs less side trimming than broad laurels. Clip once or twice a year, in late spring and late summer, mainly to set the height and keep the faces neat, keeping the top slightly narrower than the base. Check for nesting birds first. If it ever grows too tall, it takes hard pruning in late winter or early spring and regrows from older wood.
Is cherry laurel poisonous?
Yes. Like all cherry laurels, the leaves and seeds release cyanide when chewed and are toxic to dogs, cats, horses, livestock and people. Plant it away from fields where horses or livestock graze and keep clippings away from animals. If a pet eats any, contact your vet promptly.
See it in person
Every plant at Form is hand-selected, none contains new peat, and nothing beats choosing yours by eye. Visit our Row Town showroom in Surrey, just 30 minutes from London, where our team will show you the best of what is on the nursery right now. We deliver across London, Surrey and the Home Counties, and nationwide.
Walk in any time during opening hours and you will be looked after. If you would like dedicated time with a specialist, book a Genus Bar appointment.
Frequently asked questions
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Prunus laurocerasus 'Genolia' is a narrow, upright laurel. As a clipped hedge it is usually kept around 50 to 80cm deep, much slimmer than common cherry laurel, which makes it ideal for tight boundaries and smaller gardens.
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Prunus laurocerasus 'Genolia' grows at a moderate to fast rate, putting most of its energy into height rather than width. Growth is steadier in the first year while the roots settle, then picks up with regular watering in dry spells.
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Prunus 'Genolia' hedges are usually kept between 1.5 m and 4 m (5 to 13 ft) tall with regular clipping. Left untrimmed, it forms a tall, slim evergreen column.
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Spacing depends on how wide the plants are when supplied: divide 100 by the width in centimetres. A plant 50cm wide is planted at 2 per metre, and because 'Genolia' is narrow it is set a little closer than broad laurels. Our team confirms the spacing for each order.
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Prunus laurocerasus 'Genolia' is narrow and upright, with smaller, darker, toothed leaves, and suits tight spaces. 'Rotundifolia' is broad and bushy with large, rounded, bright green leaves, and gives a wider, faster screen where space allows.
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Clip once or twice a year, in late spring and late summer, mainly to set the height and keep the faces neat. It needs less side trimming than broad laurels. Check carefully for nesting birds before cutting.
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Yes. Prunus laurocerasus 'Genolia' is fully hardy in the UK, with good tolerance of cold and wind, so it keeps its dense, glossy foliage through winter on exposed sites.
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Yes. Like all cherry laurels, the leaves and seeds of Prunus laurocerasus 'Genolia' release cyanide when chewed and are toxic to dogs, cats, horses, livestock and people. If a pet eats any part of the plant, contact your vet promptly.
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Prunus 'Genolia' grows well in full sun or partial shade. It is happiest in moist, well-drained soil, and for deep shade under trees the broader 'Rotundifolia' laurel is very reliable.
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The cost depends on the size of plant, the format and the tier you choose. Value hedging uses healthy younger plants that knit together over time and suit longer runs on a budget, while Premium uses fuller, more mature plants and ready-made hedge elements for an instant result. Live prices and sizes are shown on this page, and the team confirms plant numbers and the total for each order.
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Yes. You are welcome to visit our Row Town showroom in Surrey, open Monday to Saturday and on bank holidays (closed Sundays), to choose your plants in person. You can also book a Genus Bar appointment for help with sizes, spacing and quantities.
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Yes, we deliver nationwide across the UK. Our in-house team arranges every delivery, with HIAB or Moffett offloading for larger root-balled plants and instant hedge elements, and will confirm timings and access with you before the day.
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Prunus laurocerasus 'Genolia'
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Get in touch and we’ll help you find it. Our nursery is very well stocked and we can source almost any plant through our network of trusted growers. Email info@formplants.com, or send us your whole plant list through our bespoke sourcing service.