I also grow this plant here in NC. It is a great screening shrub. We've unfortunately had some problems with the peach tree borer and young cherry laurels. Once you see the damage, it's typically too late to do anything about it. At that point, the shrub is already history. One really great thing about this plant is that it is quite tolerant of part shade and drought tolerant once established.

Spazzy cat, do you grow the species, or a named cultivar?

I've not noticed any damage -- these are bird planted and the maintenance is just keeping them out of the field and off the road by mowing. However, any prunus is subject to borers.

When the cherry laurels first started, they were severely damaged when the then owner of the property behind burned the stand of pines, and let the fire come on our side. The volatile oils in the cherry laurels were like fuel burning. More grew where they were too small to recover.

Thanks
Nell

I grew those at a previous house where I lived in the woods. Grew well for me there. I've not tried those here in full sun (I use osmanthus fragrans instead).

Great border, Nell!
Cameron

I grow the species.

I'm a special education para-educator in a high school. One of the students I work with likes to look at magazines. We are working on her to push a button to say if she wants to read by herself, or a different on to have me read to her. I found some "Country, For Those Who Live in or Long for the Country" magazines at a garage sale and bought them for us today. Nell, I don't know if they still publish that magazine, but your photos could be in there! Awesome!

Sue