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.
Cherry Laurel or Portuguese Laurel?
These are the two main Laurel choices when customers want evergreen screening but prefer different growth habits and finishes.
| Compare | Cherry Laurel | Portuguese Laurel |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Large, glossy bright-green leaves | Smaller dark-green leaves with reddish stems |
| Growth habit | Vigorous, broad and dense | Neater, more refined and easy to clip formally |
| Typical growth rate | Approximately 30-60cm a year once established | Approximately 20-40cm a year once established |
| Best suited to | Rapid privacy, larger boundaries and shaded sites | Formal gardens, driveways and chalky or alkaline soils |
Expert nursery advice
Gwynne's Grower's Tip
When choosing Laurel, I would decide on the natural growth habit before choosing the starting size. A taller plant gives quicker initial impact, but it will not change how wide, compact or formal that variety naturally wants to become. Measure the space you can realistically give the mature hedge, particularly beside paths, driveways and boundaries, then choose the Laurel type to suit that space. Once the variety is right, you can decide whether a smaller seasonal plant or a larger pot-grown, root-balled or instant option gives you the balance of budget and immediate screening you want.
Helpful answers
Frequently asked questions
01Why Choose Laurel Hedging?
- Evergreen coverage: Laurel retains its foliage throughout the year, creating a permanent garden boundary and screen.
- A choice of growth habits: The range includes vigorous broad hedges, refined formal varieties, narrow-growing screens and compact low hedging.
- Useful for privacy: Cherry, Portuguese and Upright Laurel can all form dense evergreen screening when planted and maintained correctly.
- Suitable for sun or shade: Cherry and Portuguese Laurel are especially useful where light levels vary along a boundary.
- Responds well to pruning: Laurel can be maintained at a practical garden height and shaped to suit formal or informal planting.
- Choice of sizes and root types: Selected varieties are available as pot-grown, bare-root, root-balled or instant hedging plants.
- Garden habitat: Dense evergreen growth provides shelter and potential nesting cover. Where flowers and fruits are allowed to develop, selected Laurels can also provide seasonal resources for wildlife.
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.
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.
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.
Helpful next steps
Browse all Q&A Expert Laurel advice
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