Description
Sugar Tyme Crabapple
Description
If you’re looking for a plant that gives you instant privacy and stays beautiful all year long, Skip Laurel is one of the best choices you can make. It’s a dense, evergreen shrub with rich, glossy green leaves that create a full, lush look in the landscape—even in the middle of winter. In spring, it adds another layer of interest with upright clusters of fragrant white flowers. It’s reliable, versatile, and one of the most popular options for creating a clean, polished backdrop.
Size & Presence
Skip Laurel grows into a large, substantial shrub or small tree, typically reaching 10–18 feet tall with a broad, full spread of 25–30 feet. Its naturally dense, rounded form makes it ideal when you want something that fills in nicely and creates a strong visual presence without looking overgrown or unruly.
Light & Placement
This is a very flexible plant when it comes to light. It grows well in full sun but is equally comfortable in partial shade, which makes it perfect for areas where other evergreens might struggle. It’s especially useful a long property lines,near buildings, or in shaded yard spaces.
Soil & Water
Skip Laurel prefers moist, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter, but it’s quite adaptable once established.
Water regularly during the first growing season to help it settle in. After that, it has moderate water needs and performs well with typical rainfall, as long as the soil drains properly.
Seasonal Interest
- Spring: Fragrant white flower spikes (2–5 inches long) bloom in late April,adding both beauty and scent
- Summer: Small black fruit develops, offering subtle interest and some wildlife value
- Fall & Winter: Evergreen foliage remains glossy and full, providing year-round structure and privacy
Landscape Uses
Skip Laurel is a workhorse in the landscape and one of the best choices for
- Privacy screens and hedges
- Property borders
- Mass plantings for a full, layered look
- Foundation plantings
- Shaded areas where you still want dense greenery
If your goal is to block a view, create a natural fence, or add a polished evergreen back drop,this is a go-to plant.
Care & Maintenance
One of the reasons Skip Laurel is so popular is how easy it is to maintain:
- Very tolerant of pruning — can be shaped into a formal hedge or left more natural
- Transplants well from container or balled-and-burlap
- Generally pest-resistant compared to other cherry laurels Prune as needed to control size or encourage thicker growth With minimal care, it stays full, healthy, and attractive.
Source: Botanical characteristics adapted from the University of Connecticut Plant Database (UConn Department of Plant Science & Landsc
