Long ago, these leaves were used as a tea to end one's own life. The leaves and seeds contain high amounts of prussic acid. This is another term for hydrogen cyanide.
It doesn't pose the most significant risk to skin, but it can to the eyes and respiratory tract.
This is something that might be best handled by a medical professional. It will be good to tell them the chemical that you came into contact with and what, exactly, was done in the process. We are not qualified to give medical advice, so it will be important to see someone who is.
Hi, My Cherry Laurel Hedge needs a really radical trimming in height and width. Currently stands at 12 ft tall and 5 ft wide. I need it at 7-8 ft high and 3 ft. wide. My nagging worry is that I will remove almost all of the leaves in the process and be left with bark. Can it be expected that it will get bushy once again following this cut? If yes how best to cut it, apply which manure later to encourage growth, and how long is the wait approximatelygoing to be? The hedge is overall quite healthy along its 25 meter length and has deep roots since 10+ years.
They respond well to heavy pruning so I don't think you will have a problem. Cut just above a leaf when pruning. Refrain from pruning past August as the shrub may not harden off before winter.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/cherry-laurel/growing-cherry-laurels.htm
I’m currently chipping a laurel hedge into a large skip. I can smell the almond smell it gives off. I’m just wondering is this safe for me to do and be breathing in?
I would wear a respirator that filters out chemical pollutants. Usually, this is N95 paired with Carbon, or an actual chemical respirator. Otherwise, you may be breathing in unsafe levels of Hydrogen Cyanide.
How old does a cherry laurel have to be to flower? I planted a hedge of 1ft plants 1.5 years ago and it hasn't flowered or produced berries. Thanks, Jim
This depends on if the shrub was taken from flowering cutting, or seed planted. A seed planted shrub can take, roughly, 3 to 5 years to flower, while shrubs from cutting will normally fruit within 1 or 2 years if given proper care.
Here is an article that will help you to care for them:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/cherry-laurel/growing-cherry-laurels.htm
Thankyou. I will be patient :)
Cheers, Jim
I live in Florence, Oregon, on the coast, and would like to know if anybody could identify this shrub for me?
It resembles several species, but I am inclined to say that this is the Cherry Laurel. Flowers will confirm the identity, once they bloom. This article will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/cherry-laurel/growing-cherry-laurels.htm
Could someone please help me identify what this shrub might be? I live on the Oregon coast.
I have answered on the original question, but just in case, This is the Cherry Laurel. This article will offer more information:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/cherry-laurel/growing-cherry-laurels.htm
Hi, I propagated these plants from cuttings and planted 7-9 months old plants. After some time they started showing yellowing leaves. I added chelated iron to the soil with no results. The ph was 7.5 so I tried to acidify the soil with acid peat moss and gave iron again. No results again but with months many plants started recovering although they aren t completely fine. The leaves become yellow gradually and some spots on the leaves diseccate and make holes in them. What should I do? In my place, northern Italy, this Kind of plant takes generally four to five years to gather strength and grow above One meter and a half. Is there a way to speed up this process? Thank you very much!
This does appear to be iron chlorosis! I would suspect that the pH has a lot to do with it, as well.
Make sure to test and make sure that the soil does not lack anything else, while you are at it. These article will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/soil-ph-plants.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/raise-acid-level-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/cherry-laurel/growing-cherry-laurels.htm