Flower profile
Cherry laurel
Prunus laurocerasus
Cherry laurel is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. In Washington it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Washington
Quick look
Prunus laurocerasus, also known as cherry laurel, common laurel and sometimes English laurel in North America, is an evergreen species of cherry (Prunus), native to regions bordering the Black Sea in southwestern Asia and southeastern Europe, from Albania and Bulgaria east through Turkey to the Caucasus Mountains and northern Iran.
- It belongs to the Rosaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 3 states. USDA PLANTS
- In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 2,023 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #92 among the 110 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
Cherry laurel gift ideas
Handmade cherry laurel gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Cherry laurel art print
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Cherry laurel greeting card
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Cherry laurel mug
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Cherry laurel earrings
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Cherry laurel embroidery pattern
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Cherry laurel sticker
When does it bloom?
In Washington, most flowering sightings come in April–May.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
- Washington
- No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe has no Washington rank for it.
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: high). Poisonous parts: leaves, seeds, stems. Symptoms they list: “Gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma, respiratory failure Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting: brick red mucous membranes, panting, shock.” NC State Extension
ASPCA's entry “Cherry” (Prunus spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting: brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting… ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records cherry laurel in 3 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
California, Oregon, Washington.
Washington counties with USDA records: Benton, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Mason, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, Walla Walla.
More Washington flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile PRLA5.
- iNaturalist, Prunus laurocerasus: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Prunus laurocerasus (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Washington: Washington State noxious weed list (WAC 16-750-005, -011, -015).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Prunus laurocerasus (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Jeffrey Lee (he/him/his) via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.