Plant: Bright 'N Tight - Cherry Laurel

Carolina cherry laurel is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the rose family native to the Southern United States. With its erect habit and glossy dark green leaves the species grows up to 20 feet tall and spreads to about 10 feet, bearing fragrant white star shaped flowers under an inch across in dense cylindrical racemes up to four inches long in spring, followed by purple black drupes in summer. It grows rapidly in full sun through deep shade in clay, loam, sandy or organic soil with good drainage, and tolerates alkaline soils, dry and poor soils, pollution and heavy pruning while being intolerant of heavy fertilization and having competitive roots. It is used as a screen for shaded areas, a tall hedge, a mass planting or a specimen.