Cherry laurel vs Photinia 'Red Robin'

Cherry laurel and Photinia 'Red Robin' are often considered for the same spot in the garden (hedge, screening, container). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Cherry laurel

Prunus laurocerasus 3 m × 2.5 m after 10 years

A fast-growing evergreen with glossy leaves and one of the most popular hedging plants: it grows in sun and shade alike and takes hard pruning well.…

Hedge

Full sun

Part shade

Shade

from about PLN 7

Photinia 'Red Robin'

Photinia × fraseri 'Red Robin' 3 m × 2 m after 10 years

Glossy evergreen leaves and bright red new shoots make this a colourful hedge or a striking standalone shrub. Give it sun or partial shade, shelter…

Hedge

Full sun

Part shade

from about PLN 15

Key differences

Cherry laurel is hardier: down to -23 °C, against -18 °C for Photinia 'Red Robin'.
Photinia 'Red Robin' also takes chalky soil, Cherry laurel prefers acidic soil and struggles on chalk (an estimate: sources differ).
Photinia 'Red Robin' also takes heavy clay, Cherry laurel needs a loose, free-draining soil (an estimate: sources differ).
Cherry laurel also grows in shade, Photinia 'Red Robin' does not.
As a hedge, Photinia 'Red Robin' is cheaper: a running metre of plants of the same size (40–60 cm) costs about PLN 50 (2.5 plants), against about PLN 110 for Cherry laurel (2.5 plants).

Which one to choose?

Cherry laurel is the better choice if the garden is cold or a frost pocket or the spot is shady.

Photinia 'Red Robin' is the better choice if the soil is chalky, the soil is heavy clay or price matters.

Watch out for

Cherry laurel

In Central Europe the leaves scorch in hard continental winters: the plant cannot take up water from frozen ground while winter sun and wind dry it out; large-leaved Rotundifolia browns below -20 °C and its shoots die back below -24 °C, the tougher cultivars suffer less. Water it in dry winters when the ground is not frozen and give it a sheltered spot. On limy soil the leaves turn yellow (chlorosis). Shot-hole (fungal and bacterial) and powdery mildew are common, root rot follows waterlogging, and vine weevil can notch the leaf edges. It escapes from gardens: bird-sown seedlings settle in woodland, which is why its sale has been banned in Switzerland since 1 September 2024 (Annex 2.2 of the Release Ordinance), Germany's nature conservation agency keeps it on the action list of potentially invasive species, and conservationists in Austria are calling for a sales ban. It is not on the EU, Hungarian or Slovak invasive lists.

Photinia 'Red Robin'

In Central Europe, severe frost, winter drying and late frosts can damage foliage and young shoots; it is not a reliable choice where winter minima reach -20 to -25 °C. Entomosporium leaf spot can cause substantial defoliation in humid, poorly ventilated planting. Waterlogging can damage roots, and strongly calcareous soil may cause nutrient-deficiency yellowing.

The data side by side

Feature	Cherry laurel	Photinia 'Red Robin'
Group	Hedge	Hedge
Size after 10 years	3 m × 2.5 m (uncertain)	3 m × 2 m
Ultimate size	0.6–6 m × 1–4 m (uncertain)	3–5 m × 3–5 m (uncertain)
Growth rate	Fast	Fast
Light	Full sun, Part shade, Shade	Full sun, Part shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Acidic (uncertain)	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Hardiness	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)	down to -18 °C (USDA 6, RHS H6)
Heat tolerance	Medium	no data
Foliage	Evergreen	Evergreen
Flowering	April–May, white	May–June, white
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium	Medium
Maintenance	Medium	Medium
Planted as a hedge	2.5 plants per running metre	2.5 plants per running metre
For dogs	Toxic	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Toxic	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For children	Toxic	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	about PLN 44 (40–60 cm)	about PLN 20 (40–60 cm)
Hedge price per running metre	about PLN 110 (40–60 cm)	about PLN 50 (40–60 cm)

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 26, 2026

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