Portugal laurel

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; tolerates deeper shade but grows less densely.

Water

Water regularly while establishing. Established plants tolerate some drought, but benefit from deep watering during prolonged dry weather.

Soil

Well-drained soil, including clay, loam, sand and chalk; tolerates acidic to alkaline conditions. Avoid persistently waterlogged ground.

Height

20-40 ft (6-12 m) unpruned

Spread

15-30 ft (4.5-9 m) unpruned

Flowers

Late spring to early summer; small, fragrant white flowers in upright, slender clusters.

Foliage

Evergreen. Glossy, dark green, narrowly oval leaves with finely toothed edges; leaf stalks and young stems are often red.

Growth

Moderate; usually slower and more compact than cherry laurel.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Fragrant

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   7 ft (2.3 m)

3. After 2 years

   8 ft (2.5 m)

4. After 3 years

   9 ft (2.8 m)

5. After 5 years

   11 ft (3.3 m)

About 26 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Invasive in

the US and Australia

In the garden

Spreads vigorously: plan to contain it.

Growth rate

Slow

• Water deeply during dry spells for the first two growing seasons.
• Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in spring only if growth is weak or the soil is poor.
• Keep grass and weeds away from newly planted roots.
• Pull up unwanted seedlings while small, especially near woodland.

Pruning. Trim hedges in late spring or early summer after flowering, checking first for active bird nests; hand shears or secateurs leave fewer torn leaves than powered trimmers. For a specimen tree, remove dead, crossing or badly placed branches in summer during dry weather.

Spring

Plant in colder areas once the soil is workable, then water thoroughly.

Spring

Renew mulch and feed only if growth or soil conditions justify it.

Late spring to early summer

After flowering, trim hedges and topiary once active bird nests are no longer present.

Summer

Water young plants deeply during dry spells and inspect leaves for pests or spotting.

Autumn

Plant in mild regions while soil is warm and moist; remove unwanted seedlings.

Winter

Check exposed plants for wind scorch and gently brush off heavy snow before branches bend.

• Clip into a tall evergreen hedge to screen neighbouring buildings and define boundaries.
• Train as a clear-stemmed small tree to provide a leafy canopy over shade-tolerant planting.
• Use cones, domes or standards to frame an entrance or anchor a formal garden.
• Plant behind hydrangeas, ferns and pale-flowered perennials as a dark evergreen backdrop.

Garden styles it suits: Formal, Topiary garden, Traditional, English country, Architectural minimal and Green on green.

Plant it with: Hydrangeas, Hellebores, Japanese anemones, Hardy geraniums, Foxgloves and Soft shield ferns.

Wildlife: Flowers attract bees and other insects. Birds eat the ripe fruits and can spread the seeds; dense growth provides nesting cover. Frequent clipping reduces flowering and fruiting.

• Shot-hole symptoms: spots die and fall out, leaving holes in leaves. Remove fallen affected foliage, improve airflow and avoid overhead watering; several fungal and bacterial causes can look alike.
• Vine weevil: adults notch leaf edges and larvae damage roots, especially in containers. Check root balls and use appropriate biological nematodes when soil temperatures suit the product.
• Root rot: waterlogged soil causes yellowing, wilting and root decline. Improve drainage and avoid overwatering; severely affected plants may need replacing.
• Winter scorch: cold, drying wind browns foliage. Choose a sheltered position, keep roots moist before freezing weather and wait until spring growth reveals the extent of damage.

Toxic to people, cats, dogs and horses. Leaves, stems and seed kernels contain cyanogenic compounds that can cause serious, potentially fatal poisoning if eaten. Do not eat the berries, and keep hedge clippings away from pets and livestock, especially horses.

Where it spreads. Escapes cultivation and can spread into woodland through bird-dispersed seed in the US Pacific Northwest, New Zealand and parts of southeastern Australia, including Victoria. Check local invasive-plant guidance before planting near natural areas.

• Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

  Usually has much larger, broader leaves and green rather than conspicuously red leaf stalks and young stems.

• Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis)

  Has aromatic leaves with smooth, often wavy margins rather than finely toothed edges, and lacks the long white flower clusters. Never identify edible bay by general appearance alone.

The species name lusitanica means 'of Lusitania', the Roman region covering much of present-day Portugal, which also explains the common name.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in mid- to late summer and root them in a moist, free-draining medium under cover. Seed can also be used, but germination is slow and variable, and named forms may not come true.

Accepted botanical name

Prunus lusitanica

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Azores, Canary Is., France, Madeira, Morocco, Portugal and Spain.

Measured

Soil pH 5.5 to 6.5. Average height 800 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.