Prunus lusitanica - Portugese laurel

• Screening or Privacy
• Shrubs

Prunus lusitanica - Portugese laurel works in an:

• Formal Garden – structured, symmetrical design with clipped shapes.
• Cottage Garden – romantic mix of flowers, colour, and texture.
• Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
• Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Prunus lusitanica - Portugese laurel is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height: 4m - 8m Approximately (can be larger if unpruned, or kept smaller as a hedge)

Mature Width: 2 – 3 meters

Prunus lusitanica - Portugese laurel is expected to grow Approx. 30 – 50 cm/year (Moderate).

Prunus lusitanica - Portugese laurel is expected to grow Approx. 30 – 50 cm/year (Moderate).

They are considered to have a:

• Medium Growth Rate

Is Prunus lusitanica - Portugese laurel frost tolerant?

Prunus lusitanica - Portugese laurel is Frost Hardy – Survives heavy and frequent frost without damage.

• Subtropical QLD (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast)
• Northern NSW (Byron, Coffs, Armidale)
• Sydney & Central Coast
• South Coast NSW (Illawarra to Bega)
• Inland NSW / Tablelands (Orange, Bathurst, Canberra)
• Melbourne & Surrounds (Metro, Bayside, Geelong, Bellarine, Mornington)
• Western District & Central VIC (Ballarat, Bendigo, Hamilton)
• Gippsland (Latrobe Valley, East Gippsland)
• Adelaide Metro & Coastal
• Adelaide Hills & Barossa

Prunus lusitanica produces elegant, upright racemes of small, fragrant white flowers in late spring to early summer. These lightly perfumed blooms stand out against the glossy deep green foliage and are followed by small red berries that mature to black, adding a subtle seasonal highlight.

Does Prunus lusitanica - Portugese laurel flower?

• Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

• Spring

Flower Type:

• Clustered

Flower Colour:

White

No

Prunus lusitanica - Portugese laurel is Native to South-western Europe and North Africa, particularly Portugal, Spain, and Morocco, where it grows naturally in woodlands and mountain slopes.

Its fragrant flowers attract bees and a variety of pollinating insects, while the berries provide food for birds through summer and autumn. The dense evergreen canopy offers excellent shelter, protection and nesting habitat for small birds, making it highly valuable in screening, hedging and wildlife-friendly gardens.

Prunus lusitanica - Portugese laurel will thrive best in:

• Full Sun
• Part Shade

Prunus lusitanica performs best in well-drained loam or sandy loam soils and tolerates slightly acidic to slightly alkaline conditions. It adapts well to a range of soil types but may struggle in heavy, waterlogged clay unless improved with organic matter and coarse material to enhance drainage. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then shift to deep, occasional watering as the plant matures to support drought resilience, dense canopy development and long-term hedging performance.

Is Prunus lusitanica - Portugese laurel Drought tolerant?

As a young plant it requires regular watering, but once established Portuguese Laurel develops good drought tolerance. Hardy, reliable and adaptable, it performs strongly in warm, dry, coastal and urban conditions and maintains dense evergreen foliage with deep, occasional watering during extended dry spells.