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English laurel is native to SE Europe and SW Asia. It has been grown as a hedge and ornamental garden shrub in Europe for more than 400 years.

English laurel is a dense and bushy wide spreading evergreen shrub or small tree. It can get as big as 30 ft tall with an even larger spread. Most cultivars stay much smaller, though. English laurel has shiny oblong leaves 3-6in long that are dark green on top and pale underneath. In late spring it bears fragrant creamy white flowers in upright racemes 3-6in long. The individual flowers are cup shaped with 5 petals and are almost a half-inch across. The fruits are 1/2in cherrylike drupes that ripen to dark purple.

English laurel grows best on a slightly acidic soil. Prune after flowering. Shearing for hedge growth results in unsightly mutilated leaves; it's best to prune individual branches. This is a fast growing shrub under ideal conditions, and if not clipped some of the cultivars will grow to tree stature. Light: Full sun to shade. English laurel is quite tolerant of shade. It does best with more shade in hot climates and more sun in colder areas. Some of the cultivars are tolerant of deep shade. Moisture: Provide regular garden watering; English laurel is not considered drought tolerant.Propagation: Root semi-hardwood cuttings in summer with bottom heat.