Laurel Hedging Plants for Evergreen Privacy
Family nursery since 1982 · Bare root, root ball, pot grown & instant

Laurel Hedging Plants for Evergreen Privacy

Shop our range of Laurel hedging plants for year-round privacy, screening and structure in UK gardens and landscaping projects. Choose from vigorous Cherry Laurel, refined Portuguese Laurel, narrow-growing Upright Laurel, low-growing Compact Laurel and aromatic Sweet Bay, with a selection of sizes and root types available.

Hedging Plants Direct is a family-run nursery business established in 1982. We supply Laurel hedge plants to homeowners, gardeners, landscapers, developers, trade and commercial customers across the UK. Browse the plants below to compare current sizes, prices, availability and recommended planting densities.

Choose the right Laurel for your garden

Use the required hedge style and available width to narrow the range before choosing plant size or root type.
Cherry Laurel HedgeChoose Cherry Laurel when rapid evergreen screening and a broad, dense hedge are the priority and you have enough room for its vigorous habit.Portuguese Laurel HedgeChoose Portuguese Laurel for smaller leaves, reddish stems and a neater clipped finish, especially for formal boundaries, driveways and chalky soils.Upright Laurel HedgeChoose Upright Laurel when you need tall evergreen screening but the planting strip is narrow beside a path, drive or boundary.Compact Laurel HedgeChoose Compact Laurel for lower hedges, front gardens and smaller spaces where controlled height matters more than the fastest possible screening.
  • SALECherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)Cherry Laurel HedgePrunus laurocerasus RotundifoliaChoose Cherry Laurel when rapid evergreen screening and a broad, dense hedge are the priority and you have enough room for its vigorous habit.EvergreenFast 30-60cm per yearBare RootRoot BalledPot GrownInstant HedgingPrice From £2.60Shop now
  • SALEPortuguese Laurel hedging plantsPortuguese Laurel Hedging PlantsPrunus lusitanicaChoose Portuguese Laurel for smaller leaves, reddish stems and a neater clipped finish, especially for formal boundaries, driveways and chalky soils.Colourful FoliageMedium 20-40cm per yearBare RootRoot BalledPot GrownInstant HedgingPrice From £4.50Shop now
  • SALEUpright Laurel hedging plantsUpright Laurel HedgePrunus laur. 'Caucasica'Choose Upright Laurel when you need tall evergreen screening but the planting strip is narrow beside a path, drive or boundary.EvergreenFast 30-60cm per yearRoot BalledPot GrownPrice From £17.95Shop now
  • SALECompact Laurel hedging plantsCompact Laurel HedgePrunus laur. 'Otto Luyken'Choose Compact Laurel for lower hedges, front gardens and smaller spaces where controlled height matters more than the fastest possible screening.EvergreenSlow 10-20cm per yearPot GrownPrice From £18.95Shop now
  • Sweet Bay Laurel hedging plantsSweet Bay Laurel HedgeLaurus nobilisSweet Bay Laurel is a dense, evergreen hedging plant with pale yellow flowers in the spring and aromatic dark green leaves which are perfect for cooking.EvergreenSlow 10-20cm per yearPot GrownPrice From £14.95Shop now

Cherry Laurel or Portuguese Laurel?

These are the two main Laurel choices when customers want evergreen screening but prefer different growth habits and finishes.
CompareCherry LaurelPortuguese Laurel
AppearanceLarge, glossy bright-green leavesSmaller dark-green leaves with reddish stems
Growth habitVigorous, broad and denseNeater, more refined and easy to clip formally
Typical growth rateApproximately 30-60cm a year once establishedApproximately 20-40cm a year once established
Best suited toRapid privacy, larger boundaries and shaded sitesFormal gardens, driveways and chalky or alkaline soils
Ideal maintained heightRoughly 1.5m to 4mRoughly 1.2m to 3m
Shade toleranceVery good, one of the best for shadeGood, copes with partial shade
View Cherry LaurelView Portuguese Laurel
Gwynne Bodsworth, founder and grower at Hedging Plants Direct
Expert nursery advice

Gwynne's Grower's Tip

Many customers buy more height than they need. On a long run, smaller bare-root or pot-grown Cherry Laurel planted at the right density costs far less and, in good conditions, closes much of the gap on larger plants within a few growing seasons. How quickly depends on the starting size, your soil and how well the hedge is watered and maintained. Spend on height only where you need privacy straight away, such as opposite a neighbour's window, and use smaller plants for the rest of the boundary.

Timing matters too. From November to March we lift field-grown root-balled Laurel, which gives you real height for far less than instant hedging. Order early in the season for the best choice of sizes.

Gwynne BodsworthGrower, Hedging Plants Direct
Shop root-balled hedging →

Laurel root types and seasonal availability

After choosing your Laurel variety, compare the root types offered on its product page. Not every variety is available in every format.

  • Pot grown: plants with an established root system in a pot. A flexible choice when your planting date falls outside the bare-root or rootball season.
  • Bare root: an economical option for longer hedge runs, supplied during the dormant season and best planted promptly after delivery.
  • Root balled: field-grown plants lifted with soil around their roots. Larger sizes offer more initial height, with seasonal availability.
  • Instant hedging: established hedge sections for projects needing more immediate screening. Allow for careful handling and reliable watering while they establish.

Check the current sizes, prices and availability on your chosen product before ordering. Mixed-format orders may be dispatched together once all plants are available, so check the estimated dispatch information when combining pot-grown plants with bare-root or root-balled hedging. Our delivery information explains seasonal pre-orders and delivery arrangements.

Helpful answers

Frequently asked questions

01When can Laurel hedging be planted?

Pot-grown Laurel can be planted at almost any time of year when the soil is workable and you can keep it watered. Bare-root and root-balled Laurel are seasonal: they are lifted and supplied while dormant, normally from late autumn to early spring depending on weather and lifting conditions. This is also when root-balled plants give the best value for larger sizes.

02How Many Laurel Plants Do You Need?

The correct number of Laurel plants depends on the variety, plant height, root type and density required. Small bare-root plants are normally positioned much closer together than large pot-grown, root-balled or instant hedging plants.

Each product size displays its recommended number of plants per metre. Use that size-specific figure rather than applying one universal Laurel spacing. This will give the plants enough room to establish while creating the intended level of coverage.

For detailed examples and approximate distances between plants, read our Laurel hedge spacing and care guide.

03Where Does Laurel Hedging Grow Best?

Most Laurel hedging grows well in full sun or partial shade. Cherry and Portuguese Laurel can also tolerate considerable shade, although growth may be slower where light is very limited or the plants must compete with established tree roots.

Laurel performs best in moist but well-drained ground. Cherry Laurel adapts to many common UK soil types, while Portuguese Laurel is particularly useful on chalky or alkaline soil. Compact Laurel may struggle on poor, shallow chalk, and Sweet Bay needs a sheltered position with freely draining soil.

Avoid planting Laurel in ground that remains continuously waterlogged. Where drainage is poor, improve the wider planting area or address the underlying drainage problem before ordering substantial plants.

04Which Laurel is best for fast privacy?
Cherry Laurel is normally the first choice for a fast, broad privacy hedge, with Upright Laurel offering similar vigour where a narrower screen is required. Both can grow approximately 30-60cm a year after establishment in favourable conditions, although growth will vary with soil, moisture, exposure and pruning.
05Which Laurel makes the most formal hedge?
Portuguese Laurel is an excellent choice for a formal hedge because its smaller leaves, reddish stems and neat growth respond well to clipping. Sweet Bay can also create a refined formal hedge in a warm, sheltered position, although it normally grows more slowly.
06Which Laurel is best for a small garden?
Compact Laurel is best where a low hedge is required. Upright Laurel may be more suitable where height is needed but planting width is restricted. Vigorous Cherry Laurel can also be maintained in smaller spaces, but it requires more regular pruning and enough room for its naturally broad growth.

Explore related hedging options

View all species
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Helpful next steps

Growing Advice for Laurel Hedging Plants

Browse all Q&A
Established Laurel hedge with glossy evergreen foliageCare GuideLaurel Hedging Care GuideLaurel Hedging Care Guide: Planting, Spacing and Pruning Laurel hedging establishes best when you choose the right type for the site, plant it at the same depth it…Read care guide Planting a Laurel HedgeCare GuideHow to Plant a Laurel HedgeLooking to plant a laurel hedge? Our planting guide tells you everything you need to know, from preparing the soil to ensuring your hedge grows thick and healthy.Read care guide Group of Laurel hedging plants in different sizesCare GuideBest Time to Plant Laurel Hedging in the UKWant to plant or care for Laurel this autumn and winter? Learn the best timing, planting tips and seasonal care to keep your Laurel hedge thriving.Read care guide Man using shears to prune hedgingCare GuideHow and When to Prune a Laurel HedgeFind out how easy it is to prune your laurel hedge with our detailed guide and step-by-step instructions. Get the perfect look for your garden today!Read care guide Portuguese and Cherry LaurelCare GuidePortuguese Laurel vs Cherry Laurel: The DifferencesExplore the differences between Portuguese Laurel and Cherry Laurel. Learn which laurel is best for your garden with tips on care and ideal planting conditions.Read care guide
Cherry, Portuguese, Upright, Compact and Sweet Bay Laurel comparisonQ&AIs Laurel Hedging Poisonous?Laurel is one of the UK's most popular evergreen hedges, but not every plant called Laurel has the same safety profile. This guide explains the difference between Cherry,…Read answer Cherries on Cherry Laurel HedgesQ&AIs Laurel Poisonous to Dogs?Laurel is one of the UK's most popular evergreen hedging plants, but dog owners quite reasonably want to know whether it is safe around their pets. The answer…Read answer Cherries on Cherry Laurel HedgesQ&AAre Laurel Berries Poisonous?Laurel hedges can produce attractive dark berries after flowering, but the name "Laurel" covers several different plants. Their fruit is not identical, so it is important to know…Read answer Portuguese Laurel close up. Red Shoots and glossy green leavesQ&AHow Fast Does Portuguese Laurel Grow as a Hedge?Portuguese Laurel is a refined evergreen hedge that grows more steadily than vigorous Cherry Laurel. Knowing what to expect from a young hedge makes it easier to choose…Read answer

Which Laurel hedge should you choose?

Cherry Laurel is the vigorous, large-leaved choice for a broad, dense privacy screen in sun or shade, and comes in the widest choice of sizes and root types. Portuguese Laurel has smaller dark leaves on red stems, clips to a more formal finish and is the better option on chalky or alkaline soil. Upright Laurel gives Cherry Laurel-style screening with a narrower habit for drives, paths and tight boundaries. Compact Laurel is lower and slower, suited to front gardens and smaller spaces rather than tall screening.

Sweet Bay (Laurus nobilis) is a different plant from the other Laurels: its aromatic leaves are the bay leaves used in cooking, whereas Cherry, Portuguese, Upright and Compact Laurel are Prunus and must never be eaten. Sweet Bay grows more slowly and needs a warm, sheltered, well-drained spot.

We are a Plant Healthy registered, family-run nursery established in 1982, supplying homeowners, landscapers, developers and trade customers across the UK. For long boundaries or larger schemes, contact our team for help with varieties, sizes and quantities.