Also known as English laurel or common laurel, cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is an innocuous-looking small tree or large shrub that is commonly used as a hedging, specimen or border plant. Ingesting any part of the poisonous plant, especially the leaves or seeds, can cause potentially fatal respiratory problems .
How toxic is English laurel?
Laurel Hedge Is Poisonous to Humans
If a person ingests the plant, symptoms may include excitement, weakness, gasping, respiratory failure, dilated pupils, convulsions and coma. ... When the leaves and stems wilt, the cyanide content increases, making the plants more toxic.
Which laurel is not poisonous?
Griselinia and Oleaster offer the same evergreen cover as most Laurels and also have glossy foliage but are non-toxic – ideal if you’re planting next to livestock.
Is laurel poisonous to humans?
With the exception of Bay Laurel, the short answer is yes. All other Laurel hedging varieties (including berries) are poisonous to both humans and animals . Laurel hedge plants produce hydrocyanic acid which can cause serious complications if ingested.
Does laurel give off cyanide?
Leaves and seed may cause severe discomfort to humans if ingested. ... This chemical composition is what gives the smell of almonds when the leaves are crushed. Laurel water, a distillation made from the plant, contains prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide) and other compounds and is toxic .
Is it safe to cut Laurel?
Yes , in general, you can cut Cherry Laurel, Portugal Laurel and Bay Laurel right back to the stump and it will re-shoot. If you just want to trim the sides back hard then this will also re-shoot.
Is Laurel toxic to dogs?
If your pet has eaten any part of a laurel shrub, contact your veterinarian immediately. The flowering shrub laurel contains a powerful neurotoxin called grayanotoxin which can disturb the proper function of the body’s cell membranes. Laurel poisoning should be treated as an emergency.
How do I get rid of laurel?
Laurel leaves take a long time to compost but you can add some to your other compost. They are poisonous to humans but not to plants, especially acid lovers, when they are composted. As you have a lot of laurel I would be inclined to put it in the green waste, unless you have a lot of other compost to mix it with.
Are laurel hedges good for wildlife?
Laurel plants are great for nesting birds . If you are aware of wildlife and enjoy spotting birds Laurel may well be the hedge of choice for you. They provide a great level of cover for all sorts of nesting birds and you’ll be bound to get some satisfaction from knowing you are giving nature a helping hand.
How do I encourage laurel growth?
Use a Fertiliser
Using fertiliser is a great way to encourage laurel growth. Established laurels grow better with the help of balanced fertilisers such as Rootgrow fertiliser, whereas new laurels struggling to establish and grow prefer a natural, organic fertiliser such as Bonemeal.
What plant produces cyanide?
Cyanide Plant Sources
Plants that contain cyanide compounds include young bamboo shoots (Bambusa spp.), cassava roots (Manihot esculenta), giant taro leaves (Alocasia macrorrhizos) and lima or butter beans (Phaseolus lunatus L.).
What does cyanide do to the body?
Cyanide gas is less dense than air; so it will rise. Cyanide prevents the cells of the body from using oxygen . When this happens, the cells die. Cyanide is more harmful to the heart and brain than to other organs because the heart and brain use a lot of oxygen.
What will grow under Laurel?
Foxgloves, bluebells and ferns grow under mine – I’ve not had much success with anything else though! The dead nettles are usefull in dry shade, they have quite long roots and send them deep down for a bit of moisture.
What is Laurel used for?
In herbal medicine, aqueous extracts of bay laurel have been used as an astringent and salve for open wounds . It is also used in massage therapy and aromatherapy. A folk remedy for rashes caused by poison ivy, poison oak, and stinging nettle is a poultice soaked in boiled bay leaves.
Is English laurel the same as cherry laurel?
Cherry laurel, also called English laurel, is a large evergreen shrub or small tree often used for landscaping, usually as a hedge. Related to cherry trees, cherry laurel gets its common name from its resemblance to the true laurel tree.
What is killing my laurel bushes?
Leaves of cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) are often affected by powdery mildew (Podosphaera tridactyla and Podosphaera pannosa), by leaf spot fungi (Stigmina carpophila and Eupropolella britannica) and bacterial shothole (Pseudomonas syringae), all of which can cause holes, tattering and distortion in the leaves.
