Portuguese Laurel: Prunus Lusitanica

Premium Portuguese Laurel Hedging Plants

Create an elegant, formal hedge with our superior Portuguese Laurel (Prunus Lusitanica). This large, robust evergreen shrub offers a more refined appearance than its cousin, the Cherry Laurel, making it the perfect choice for creating sophisticated garden boundaries and privacy screens.

Why Choose Portuguese Laurel?

• Stunning Foliage: Dark red shoots mature into glossy, dark oval green leaves creating year-round visual interest
• Beautiful Flowers & Fruits: Delicate white flowers in early summer followed by attractive dark purple fruits in autumn
• Formal Elegance: More refined and structured appearance than common Cherry Laurel
• Low Maintenance: Hardy, disease-resistant, and requires minimal care once established
• Impressive Size: Creates substantial hedges and screens for maximum privacy
• Versatile: Excellent for hedging, topiary, or as a specimen plant

Plant Specifications

• Ultimate Height: 12m+ (can be maintained at any desired height)
• Ultimate Spread: 8m+
• Planting Density: 3 plants per metre for a dense, formal hedge
• Growth Rate: Moderate to fast
• Hardiness: Fully hardy (RHS H5)
• Aspect: Full sun to partial shade

Ideal For:

• Formal hedging and garden boundaries
• Privacy screens and windbreaks
• Topiary and shaped features
• Large specimen planting
• Coastal gardens (good wind tolerance)
• Wildlife-friendly gardens (flowers attract pollinators, berries feed birds)

Growing & Care Guide

Planting: Portuguese Laurel thrives in most well-drained soils and tolerates both full sun and partial shade. Plant 33cm apart (3 per metre) for hedging. Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and mix in organic matter.

Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a deep root system. Once established, it's relatively drought-tolerant.

Pruning: Trim once or twice a year (late spring and late summer) to maintain shape and encourage dense growth. Can be clipped into formal shapes or left for a more natural appearance.

Feeding: Apply a general-purpose fertiliser in spring to promote healthy growth.

Why Buy from Stoneybrook Nursery?

All our Portuguese Laurel plants are grown with care at our Lancashire nursery, ensuring they're perfectly acclimatised to UK conditions. We supply healthy, well-established plants ready for immediate planting, giving you the best possible start for a beautiful hedge.

Portuguese Laurel is an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner, recognised for its outstanding garden performance and reliability.