Skip Laurel, known scientifically as Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’, is a popular evergreen shrub highly valued in residential landscaping. Its dense foliage and upright growth habit make it a preferred choice for creating year-round privacy screens and formal hedges. Homeowners often seek specific information on its mature size because its ultimate height directly impacts its function as a visual barrier or as a structural element in a garden. The plant’s ability to maintain a lush, dark green appearance throughout the winter contributes significantly to its widespread appeal as a reliable screening plant.
Defining the Mature Dimensions
The mature height of the Skip Laurel cultivar typically falls within a range of 10 to 18 feet when allowed to grow naturally. Most commonly, in a home landscape setting, it reaches between 10 and 15 feet tall, which establishes a substantial privacy barrier for most residential needs. Its natural spread is narrower than its height, usually maturing at about 5 to 8 feet wide, giving it the characteristic vase or goblet shape. This relatively narrow profile makes it an excellent candidate for planting in rows to create a dense, living wall without taking up excessive depth in the yard. The maximum height of 18 feet is generally achieved only under ideal growing conditions where the plant is never pruned and has ample space and resources.
Factors Influencing Growth Rate and Size
The final size a Skip Laurel attains is highly dependent on the environment and cultural practices it receives throughout its life. Sunlight exposure is a significant factor, as the shrub thrives in conditions ranging from full sun to partial shade. While it tolerates shaded locations well, a position receiving more direct sunlight generally promotes denser growth and pushes the plant toward the upper end of its potential height and width.
Soil quality and drainage also play a considerable role in determining the plant’s vigor and ultimate dimensions. Skip Laurel prefers fertile, well-drained soil, but it can adapt to various soil compositions, including clay, as long as it is not subjected to standing water. Consistent moisture without waterlogging encourages a moderate growth rate, which can be up to one to two feet per year once established.
Geographic location, specifically the USDA Hardiness Zone, also sets the parameters for growth, as the plant is reliably hardy in Zones 5 through 9. Plants grown in the warmer end of this range or those receiving afternoon shade in hot climates may experience less environmental stress, which allows them to reach their maximum genetic size potential. Conversely, poor soil, inadequate watering, or exposure to harsh winter winds can reduce the growth rate and result in a smaller, less robust mature specimen.
Managing Size Through Pruning and Maintenance
Because the Skip Laurel naturally reaches a considerable height, regular maintenance is usually necessary to keep it at a desired landscape size. Pruning is the primary method gardeners use to control the shrub’s dimensions, often maintaining a hedge at a height of six to eight feet. The plant is quite resilient and responds well to shaping, allowing it to be kept much shorter than its maximum potential.
For a formal, neat appearance, the hedge can be lightly sheared annually to maintain a defined, tight shape and encourage the development of dense foliage. It is advisable to use hand pruners or loppers for this process rather than electric hedge trimmers, as the latter can rip the large evergreen leaves and cause browning along the cut edges. The best time for this light shaping is typically in the spring immediately following its flowering period.
If a Skip Laurel hedge has become overgrown, a more aggressive approach, known as rejuvenation pruning, can be employed to reduce its size dramatically. This heavy cutback is best performed in the late winter or very early spring while the plant is still dormant. When performing such a reduction, it is necessary to cut back to a healthy leaf, a side branch, or a visible growth node to encourage vigorous new growth and ensure a quick recovery.