A spreading evergreen shrub to 1m tall, with dense, low growth, and narrow, glossy dark green leaves. Small, strongly fragrant white flowers in erect racemes appear in spring, followed by cherry-like red fruits turning to glossy black
0.5-1 metres
1-1.5 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Easy to grow in any moist but well-drained, moderately fertile soil in sun or partial shade. Its spreading habit makes it useful for low hedges and massed planting but may become chlorotic on poorer, shallow chalky soils. Has the potential to become a nuisance if not managed well
Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings from late summer to autumn or hardwood cuttings from late autumn to late winter
Pruning group 8 including hedges in late spring or early summer
May be susceptible to vine weevil and leaf-mining moths
May be susceptible to powdery mildews and other laurel leaf diseases