Prunus laurocerasus, also known as Cherry Laurel, is a beautiful and versatile evergreen shrub or small tree native to regions bordering the Black Sea in southwestern Asia and southeastern Europe. With its dark green, leathery, shiny leaves and erect racemes of creamy-white flowers that open in early summer, Cherry Laurel is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant for gardens and parks in temperate regions worldwide. It is also often used for hedges, screening plants, and massed landscape plantings. Most cultivars are tough shrubs that can withstand various growing conditions, including shaded and dry areas, and respond well to pruning. However, Cherry Laurel can become invasive in some regions, such as the United Kingdom and the Pacific Northwest of North America, where its rapid growth and evergreen habit can outcompete and kill off native plant species. The species has also been used for making laurel wreaths, but it should not be confused with its American relative, Prunus caroliniana. While the fruits of Cherry Laurel are generally edible, they can be bland and somewhat astringent, and the leaves and seeds contain hydrogen cyanide which can cause severe discomfort if ingested. Cherry Laurel is the perfect foliage for cut greenery in floristry and is a beautiful species to add to any garden or park.