Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica)

The Portuguese laurel is a graceful evergreen hedge plant with maroon-colored branches that bear short, pointed, glossy leaves that are deep green in colour.
Along with little red fruits that are a favourite of birds, tiny, fragrant white blooms bloom in the summer and attract bees and butterflies. The fruits become black in the autumn.

With its medium growth rate, Portuguese laurel is rather easy to shape and manage. It only needs to be trimmed once a year in the late summer, although it can grow very tall if you want it to.

Growing Portuguese laurels is simple, and they do well in full sun as well as partial or full shade. Any type of soil will work with them as long as it doesn't get too wet during rainy seasons.

Tree attributes

Average growth per year 30-50cm
Can be planted in clay, chalk and normal soils
Can grow in full shade or sunny
Ideal as a privacy screen due to compact foliage
Low maintenance