Poisonous Cherry Laurel Tree

by Michelle Wishhart
In the past, distilled cherry laurel leaves were used to make prussic acid.


Also known as English laurel or common laurel, cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is an innocuous-looking small tree or large shrub that is commonly used as a hedging, specimen or border plant. Ingesting any part of the poisonous plant, especially the leaves or seeds, can cause potentially fatal respiratory problems. If cherry laurel poisoning is suspected in you or someone else, immediately call The American Association of Poison Control Centers at 1-800-222-1222.


All parts of the shrub contain a toxin called hydrogen cyanide, also known as prussic acid. The toxin is concentrated in the leaves and seeds. It is easy to identify due to its strong, almond-like smell (hydrogen cyanide is also present in almonds in trace amounts) and bitter taste. Though the toxin has been used in controlled, small amounts for medical purposes, an overdose of cyanide depletes the central nervous system of oxygen, causing death.


Symptoms of cherry laurel poisoning may include gasping for breath, weakness, spasms, convulsions, coma and respiratory failure, according to the North Carolina State Cooperative Extension Service. Poisoning primarily occurs through ingesting the leaves or seeds, as the leaves may be mistaken for those of the bay laurel (Laurus nobilis), which are often used as a cooking seasoning. There have been reports of people feeling faint from passing cherry laurel through a wood chipper, according to The Poison Garden. If poisoning is suspected, seek immediate medical help.


Until the mid- to late 19th century, cherry laurel leaves were distilled and made into cherry-laurel water, which was a source of prussic acid, according to The Poison Garden. The website says numerous cases of individuals drinking the water intentionally and accidentally, with fatal consequences, were recorded by Sir Robert Christison in his "Treatise on Poisons" in the 1840s. The fumes from crushed leaves have been used by insect collectors to kill bugs without causing damage to the physical body.


Cherry laurel is a common garden plant suitable for U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 to 9, where it will grow in full sun to partial shade. The shrub prefers a moist, well-draining acidic soil. Root rot can be a problem in compacted or flooded soils. It can tolerate some coastal exposure. The plant should be kept away from children.

About the Author


Photo Credits

  • Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
Suggest a Correction

Have Feedback?
