Prunus laurocerasus ‘Etna’

‘Etna’ is one of the best compact laurels for modern gardens. It’s denser and more upright than the old cherry laurels, with the real draw being its spring growth: fresh leaves emerge a warm orange-bronze, then mature to glossy dark green through summer.

Upright racemes of fragrant white flowers open in mid and late spring, followed by cherry-like red fruits that ripen to black. Height stays around 3 to 4m, and it will add 20 to 40cm of growth a year.

Plant in any well-drained or moist but well-drained soil in sun or part shade. Tolerates pollution, dry soils, heavy shade and some exposure, though best foliage colour comes with more sun. Takes hard pruning well, so brilliant for trained hedges.

A firm favourite for a medium-height evergreen hedge, a backdrop shrub, or a clipped specimen near the front of the house.