← Species guide
Cherry laurel
High riskPrunus laurocerasus
The common estate hedge that has escaped into Gower and Clyne woodlands. A mature cherry laurel casts shade so deep nothing grows beneath it, and it suckers freely from cut or dumped material.
How to identify it
- Large evergreen shrub with glossy, leathery oblong leaves
- Upright white flower spikes in spring, followed by black cherry-like berries
- Crushed leaves smell of almonds (cyanide compounds)
- Nothing growing on the ground beneath a mature bush
Why it matters
- Deep, permanent shade kills woodland ground flora and stops tree seedlings
- Leaf litter is slow to break down and changes soil chemistry
- Forms impenetrable thickets that block paths and views
How to control it
- Cut and treat stumps immediately with herbicide — regrowth from a untreated stump is vigorous
- Pull seedlings and layering stems by hand when small
- Remove berry-bearing material before cutting where possible
- Replant or let the canopy close over the cleared gap so it does not simply refill
