Prunus lusitanica - Portugese laurel - Evergreen Trees Direct

Prunus lusitanica - Portugese laurel

Name: Prunus lusitanica - Portugese laurel
Brand: Evergreen Trees Direct
Price: 1300.00 AUD
Availability: InStock

$990.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

993 in stock

Size: 150L

200L 150L 100L 70L 50cm 40cm/45L 30cm/33cm - Batch A 30cm/33cm - Batch B

Current Stock Height Guides

30cm/33cm: 0.6m – 1m Approx.
40cm/45L: 0.8m – 1.2m Approx.
70L: 1m – 1.2m Approx.
100L: Enquire within for height guide information.
150L: 1.2m – 1.4m Approx.
200L: 1.4m – 1.6m Approx.

Trade Customers

We supply advanced trees to landscapers, developers, architects, and councils Australia-wide. Trade clients receive fast quotes, expert advice, and access to premium stock with reliable freight.

About Prunus lusitanica - Portugese laurel

Prunus lusitanica, commonly known as Portuguese Laurel, is a top-tier evergreen hedging shrub prized for its dense, glossy dark green foliage and excellent frost tolerance. It’s a versatile, hardy choice perfect for creating formal privacy screens, structured hedges, and low-maintenance landscapes in both cool and warm climates.

With a naturally upright and compact habit, accented by red stems, Portuguese Laurel delivers a clean, structured look whether clipped sharply or left to grow more naturally. In spring, it produces delicate white flower clusters followed by vibrant red berries that mature to black, adding subtle seasonal interest.

Thriving in full sun to part shade and adaptable to various soils including clay, this shrub is especially valued for its drought tolerance once established and exceptional performance in frost-prone areas — a rare quality for an evergreen hedge.

They look excellent when planted in rows for formal hedging or as standalone privacy screens, and pair beautifully with companion plants like shade-tolerant groundcovers or spring-blooming bulbs to create layered garden effects.

Key Information to Know

Evergreen / Deciduous

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

Mature Height & Width

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).

Frost Tolerance

Is Prunus lusitanica - Portugese laurel frost tolerant?

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

Flowering Information

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.

Native Information

Is Prunus lusitanica - Portugese laurel an Australian Native? 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.

Wildlife Value

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.

Sunlight Information

Prunus lusitanica - Portugese laurel will thrive best in:

Full Sun
Part Shade

Preffered Soil

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.

Botanical Information

Common Name: Portuguese Laurel

Genus: Prunus

Botanical Species: lusitanica

Family: Rosaceae

Botanical Name: Prunus lusitanica

Landscape Uses

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.

Planting, Spacing & Care

How to Plant:

Choose a location with well-draining soil and exposure to full sun or partial shade.
Dig a hole that is the same depth as the root ball and at least twice as wide.
Place the shrub in the hole at the correct depth.
Backfill with soil, water thoroughly, and add mulch to conserve moisture.

Feature Planting: Space 1.5 – 2.5 m apart to maintain upright structure

Hedging & Screening: Space 1m - 1.3m

Avenue Planting: Space 2 – 3 m apart for structured linear planting

Caring for Prunus lusitanica:

Prune as needed to maintain the desired shape, promote flowering, and remove dead or wayward branches.
Fertilize with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring to encourage healthy growth and flowering.

How to Grow in Different Soil Types

Prunus lusitanica prefers well-drained soil but adapts to different conditions:

Sandy Soil: Drains quickly—add compost to improve moisture retention.

Clay Soil: Can be compacted—improve with organic matter and gypsum for better aeration.

Loamy Soil: Ideal for healthy root development and lush foliage.

Acidic or Alkaline Soil: Tolerates a wide pH range, thriving best in neutral to slightly acidic soil.

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

Medium Growth Rate

Root Ball Dimensions (Width × Depth) For Planting

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

Ideal Conditions

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

Thrives in

Full Sun
Part Shade

Frost Tolerance

Frost Hardy – Survives heavy and frequent frost without damage.

Drought Tolerance

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.

Flowering Information

Does Prunus lusitanica - Portugese laurel flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Spring

Flower Type:

Clustered

Flower Colour:

White

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the significance of Portuguese Laurel's fragrant flowers?
The fragrant white flowers add a delightful aroma to the garden and attract pollinators, enhancing biodiversity.
Can Portuguese Laurel be used for formal hedges and topiary?
Yes, its dense growth habit and evergreen foliage make it an excellent choice for formal hedges and topiary.
Is it suitable for providing privacy in outdoor spaces?
Yes, it is often used as a privacy screen due to its dense foliage and upright growth.
Does Prunus lusitanica attract wildlife?
The fragrant flowers may attract bees and other pollinators, contributing to garden biodiversity.