My husband and I have just moved to Parksville on Vancouver Island. We have a small garden with bare spots that our neighbours have offered to help fill. One neighbour has offered us a Laurel. In doing some research I note that there are several kinds of Laurel at least some of which are considered alien and invasive. Unfortunately my neighbour doesn't know what kind of Laurel she has. Is there an easy way for me to identify whether it is something I should regretfully refuse or happily accept? Any help would be appreciated. Pat
She's your neighbour? Take some photos of the whole plant and the leaves and flowers if there are any now, and post a reply with the photos. See How to Attach Photos and other files
Hmm! Very kind offer... but... There are so many wonderful plants, ones that have interesting flowers, beautiful autumn colour, colourful fruit or berries. Any evergreen Laurel would be right at the bottom of my list! Your garden. Why not look around and see what plants you like. You can post a pic here and someone will id it for you.
Prunus laurocerasus Prunus lusitanica Laurus nobilis in descending order of likelihood. The first is the most weedy, the third not weedy at all - in fact it is burnt by occasional colder winters.
And of those three, only the last is properly called a laurel. But due to poor education, the other two are often wrongly identified as laurels as well. Umbellularia californica is also a (slight) possibility; that at least is a laurel.
Many thanks to all of you who replied to my enquiry. I will try to get a photo of the Laurel and post them. Thanks again. Pat
