Cherry laurel vs Common yew

Cherry laurel and Common yew 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

Common yew

Taxus baccata 4 m × 2.1 m after 10 years

Its dense, dark green foliage makes a useful evergreen hedge or a clipped garden feature, even in shade. It tolerates pruning well, but eventually…

Hedge

Full sun

Part shade

Shade

from about PLN 6.40

Key differences

Common yew is highly toxic to children, dogs and cats: even a small amount can be life-threatening. Do not plant it where small children, dogs or cats go. Needles, shoots, bark and seeds are highly poisonous to people, dogs and cats; dried clippings remain dangerous. Only the fleshy red aril is non-toxic, while the seed inside is poisonous, so the fruit should not be treated as edible.
Common yew grows taller, Cherry laurel spreads wider: 4 m × 2.1 m and 3 m × 2.5 m after ten years (an estimate: sources differ).
Cherry laurel grows faster than Common yew (an estimate: sources differ).
Common yew is hardier: down to -29 °C, against -23 °C for Cherry laurel.
Cherry laurel copes better with summer heat than Common yew.
Common yew also takes chalky soil, Cherry laurel prefers acidic soil and struggles on chalk (an estimate: sources differ).
Common yew also takes heavy clay, Cherry laurel needs a loose, free-draining soil (an estimate: sources differ).
Common yew has pollen that can cause allergies, Cherry laurel does not (an estimate: sources differ).

Which one to choose?

Cherry laurel is the better choice if small children, dogs or cats use the garden, you want quick results, the spot is hot and sunny or someone in the family has a pollen allergy.

Common yew is the better choice if the garden is cold or a frost pocket, the soil is chalky or the soil is heavy clay.

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.

Common yew

Waterlogged, poorly aerated soil can cause root rot and plant death. Prolonged hot, dry weather may require watering, especially while young; winter wind and sunshine can cause foliage browning. Scale insects, vine weevils and needle or shoot diseases can occur in Central Europe, but generally do not make it a poor garden choice. Male plants release allergenic pollen in spring.

The data side by side

Feature	Cherry laurel	Common yew
Group	Hedge	Hedge
Size after 10 years	3 m × 2.5 m (uncertain)	4 m × 2.1 m (uncertain)
Ultimate size	0.6–6 m × 1–4 m (uncertain)	10–20 m × 8–15 m
Growth rate	Fast	Slow (uncertain)
Light	Full sun, Part shade, Shade	Full sun, Part shade, 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 -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	Medium	Low
Foliage	Evergreen	Evergreen
Flowering	April–May, white	March–April, yellow, green
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium	Medium
Maintenance	Medium	Medium
Planted as a hedge	2.5 plants per running metre	3 plants per running metre
For dogs	Toxic	Highly toxic
For cats	Toxic	Highly toxic
For children	Toxic	Highly toxic
Typical price	about PLN 9.50 (< 40 cm)	about PLN 8.60 (< 40 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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