Cherry Laurel Banned: What to Plant Instead
Since 1 September 2024, cherry laurel (laurelle) can no longer be sold, given away or imported in Switzerland: it is one of the invasive alien plants covered by the federal Release Ordinance (ODE). Your existing hedge does not have to be pulled out, but for a new planting, or to replace it gradually, several species are much better choices: yew, hornbeam, beech, common privet, holly, or a mixed informal hedge.
What the ban actually changes
The ban applies to placing plants on the market: sale, gifts and imports. It covers cherry laurel, but also the butterfly bush (buddleia). It does not target plants already growing in gardens.
- You already have a cherry laurel hedge: you are not required to remove it. It is, however, advisable to replace it in time.
- You want to plant a new hedge: you will no longer find cherry laurel at nurseries, and obtaining it by other means would go against the spirit of the rule.
- You are trimming your hedge: clippings must not spread. Branches, berries and seeds should not go to a woodland edge, a stream bank or wasteland.
Why is this plant a problem? It self-seeds easily, establishes itself in woodland understorey and competes with native flora. Its dense, evergreen foliage also offers few resources to native wildlife.
Which alternatives for a hedge?
No species is perfect: it all depends on exposure, the height you want and the time you wish to spend on upkeep.
| Species | Foliage | Strengths | Points to note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yew | Evergreen | Dense, dark, trims very well, good year-round screen | Fairly slow growth; toxic plant, to be avoided where animals or young children could eat it |
| Hornbeam | Deciduous, dry leaves kept for part of the winter | Robust, can be clipped as a formal hedge, useful to birds | Less complete screen in midwinter |
| Beech | Deciduous, dry leaves kept over winter | Attractive foliage, dense hedge once established | Prefers soil that does not stay waterlogged |
| Common privet | Semi-evergreen | Steady growth, tolerates clipping | May lose some leaves in cold winters |
| Holly | Evergreen | Glossy foliage, berries for birds, defensive | Prickly leaves when trimming |
| Dogwood, viburnum | Deciduous | Flowers, berries, interest in every season | Best combined with other shrubs for a continuous screen |
The mixed informal hedge
Rather than a single species, you can mix several shrubs: dogwood, viburnum, hornbeam, holly, privet. This informal hedge needs less trimming, flowers at different times, provides berries and shelters insects and birds. It is also less vulnerable: if one species suffers from disease or a difficult summer, the others hold the structure.
It does, however, need more width than a hedge trimmed to a line. On a small plot, a formal yew or hornbeam hedge is often more suitable.
Replacing a cherry laurel hedge, step by step
Replacement needs planning: an old cherry laurel hedge has a well-developed root system.
- Define what the new hedge must do. Height, degree of opacity, winter presence, upkeep you are willing to accept. This brief guides the choice of species.
- Plan a temporary screen. If the old hedge protects a terrace or a boundary with a neighbour, a temporary panel or trellis avoids being overlooked while the new planting establishes. See the options for fencing and trellis.
- Work in sections if needed. Removing the hedge in several stages lets you keep part of the screen while the young plants settle in.
- Cut, then uproot. The stems are first cut at ground level, then the stumps and large roots are removed.
- Dispose of waste properly. Clippings, stumps and berries go through a suitable disposal route, with no fly-tipping and no compost left at a woodland edge.
- Prepare the soil. Loosen it, remove remaining roots and improve the soil with topsoil or compost depending on its nature.
- Plant and water. Young plants are spaced according to the species and the density you want, then watered regularly during the first seasons. Mulch limits evaporation and unwanted weeds.
Why favour native species?
A hedge made up of species suited to the local climate offers more than foliage:
- Biodiversity: flowers for pollinators, berries for birds, shelter for small mammals and insects.
- Resilience: native or non-invasive species generally cope better with local variations in temperature and rainfall.
- No risk of spreading into neighbouring natural areas.
- Interest all year round: flowers, fruit, autumn colour, winter structure.
To fit the hedge into a coherent whole, a landscape design or garden creation project lets you plan borders, screens and paths together. If you want to limit the time spent in the garden, the guide to a low-maintenance garden offers further ideas.
The Geneva context
The canton of Geneva has a lakeside climate: sometimes dry summers, cool winters, pronounced storms, and a bise wind that dries out exposed plants. An evergreen hedge in full wind copes poorly with dry years if watering is neglected, especially in the first two or three seasons.
Many Geneva plots also have heavy clay soil, which holds water in winter and cracks in summer. Before planting, it is best to loosen the soil deeply and avoid hollows where water stagnates. On a sloping plot, the hedge is planted along the contour lines and can also help retain the soil.
In residential municipalities with large plots, such as Cologny or Vandœuvres, the hedge often serves as a boundary between properties. In the denser fabric of Carouge, limited space points rather to a narrow clipped hedge. The full list of possible services is on the landscaper in Geneva page.
Entrusting the project to a landscaper
Choosing the species, removing the old hedge and getting the new planting right requires an eye on site: exposure, soil type, desired height, neighbours. A landscaper visits, examines the site and gives you a detailed quote, free and without obligation. To get started, simply request a quote: you describe your project and a qualified landscaper gets back to you within 24 hours. For the hedge’s later care, see also hedge trimming and the stages of a landscape project.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to remove my existing cherry laurel?
No, the ban covers sale, gifts and imports, not plants already in place. It is nevertheless advisable to replace them gradually. In the meantime, make sure clippings do not spread into the countryside.
Which evergreen hedge best replaces cherry laurel?
Yew and holly are evergreens that provide a screen all year round. Common privet, which is semi-evergreen, is a good option if you want steady growth. The final choice depends on exposure and on how the hedge will be used.
Can you still buy a buddleia?
No, the butterfly bush is also covered by the ban on placing plants on the market since 1 September 2024. To attract butterflies and insects, you can choose richly flowering, non-invasive shrubs such as viburnum or dogwood.
What should I do with cherry laurel clippings?
Do not leave them at a woodland edge, on a stream bank or on wasteland: they could take root there. Dispose of them through a suitable disposal route.
Is an informal hedge suitable for a small garden?
It needs width to develop, as each shrub grows to its natural shape. On a narrow plot, a clipped yew, hornbeam or beech hedge takes up less space and stays more regular.