Laurel shrubs
Laurel can refer to a few different types of garden shrubs, including Aucuba (spotted laurel), Prunus (mainly used for hedging) and Laurus (such as bay laurel). Bay laurel can be a useful choice for the kitchen garden with glossy evergreen foliage that also works well in containers. The laurel around the heads of Greek heroes was Laurus, but the laurel elsewhere in the garden is more likely to be Aucuba or Prunus. Aucuba are versatile evergreen foliage plants for almost anywhere in the garden, including shady areas where other varieties will struggle. They have large, glossy, evergreen leaves, providing a colourful mix of green and yellow-gold. Aucuba are well suited to growing in the container, border, as specimen shrubs, under-planting below deciduous trees or even as a houseplant. Prunus varieties of laurel are one of the best selling groups of evergreen hedging with large, shiny, dark green leaves. They are easy to grow, great for providing privacy and look good all year round. English or Cherry laurel is one of the most popular Prunus varieties, producing spikes of small white flowers in mid-spring, succeeded by black berries in the autumn.