Skip Laurel Shrub

Why Skip Laurel Shrubs?

This dense, glossy evergreen can be trained into a tight hedge or left unclipped to show off its naturally rounded shape — either way, you get a screen thick enough to block a view, wind, or street noise without waiting years for it to fill in.

This evergreen is hardy and resistant in nearly every way:

• Drought tolerant - no need to water after it's established

• Deer resistant - not many evergreens can say that!

• Tolerant of air pollution - great for cities and urban landscapes

• Adaptable to a range of soil types - provided the soil drains well

• Tolerant of partial shade - though full sun and good airflow give it the healthiest, most vigorous growth

The Skip Laurel grows at a steady, moderate pace of about 2 feet per year, reaching full size in roughly a decade. Left unclipped, it puts on a real show each spring: fragrant, white, candle-like flower spikes, followed by dark red berries that persist into autumn and winter. Plant it as a privacy hedge, a windbreak, or a buffer against dust and traffic noise — space plants around 5 to 10 feet apart for a hedge, or wider if you want individual, fuller shapes to develop.

One thing to know before you plant: if your Skip Laurel Shrub arrives with small holes or spotting on some leaves, that's usually shot-hole fungus, a common but largely cosmetic issue in laurels — new growth typically comes in clean, especially with decent airflow between plants and a spot that isn't consistently wet.

What is a Jumbo Skip Laurel Shrub?

Jumbo shrubs are the most mature plants offered at Trees.com. Their well-developed root systems and larger container size give them better drought resistance after establishment and nutrient uptake right out of the gate, so they're the right call if you want a fuller hedge or immediate privacy without the wait — grown in limited quantities for homeowners who want a fast, established look.

Why Trees.com?

Your Skip Laurel is grown at our nursery until it has a strong, well-developed root system before it ever ships — not just until it looks sellable — so it's ready to establish quickly once it's in your yard rather than needing time to catch up first.

Every shrub we ship is backed by our Alive & Thrive Guarantee™, and our Plant Experts are ready to help with questions about spacing, siting, or spotting the difference between shipping-related leaf damage and an ongoing issue as your hedge fills in.

Planting & Care

1. Planting: First, select a location with well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade – any area with about 4 to 6 hours of sunlight should suffice. When you’re ready to plant, dig a hole that’s about three times the width of your plant’s root ball, and place your plant.

2. Watering: Once established, your Skip Laurel is relatively drought-tolerant, but it’s important to have a regular watering schedule for the first few growing seasons. Water about once weekly or check the surrounding soil about 2 or 3 inches down. Generally, we recommend letting a garden hose run for about 1 to 3 minutes per week, depending on your soil.

3. Fertilizing: You'll want to use a shrub and tree fertilizer, unless a soil test shows that nutrients are low or missing. If the soil is missing or low on nutrients, use a nutrient-specific fertilizer.

4. Pruning: You may want to consider pruning if you're using Skip Laurels as a hedge; left unclipped, you'll get white, candle-like flowers with red berries in autumn and winter. To clip into a hedge, simply shear to your desired shape and height in the fall or winter.