20% off sale applies automatically at checkout. No Code Required. Applies to Orders over $1,500
Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel
Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel
Couldn't load pickup availability
Current Stock Height Guides
Current Stock Height Guides
Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.
Mature Height & Width
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 Portuguese Laurel is expected to grow Approx. 30 – 50 cm/year (Moderate).
Root Ball Dimensions
Root Ball Dimensions
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)
Trade
Trade
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.
Shipping
Shipping
Shipping is calculated at checkout based on the pallet space your order occupies in the truck and your delivery location.
There is no charge to calculate your freight.
Contact
Contact
Have a question or a list to send through to us?
Email: sales@evergreentrees.com.au
Phone: (03) 7042 3318
Share this product
Our 20% Off EOFY Sale is Live
Our 20% Off EOFY Sale is Live
Our 20% Off EOFY Sale is Live
Our 20% Off EOFY Sale is Live
Our 20% Off EOFY Sale is Live
Our 20% Off EOFY Sale is Live

About Your New Prunus lusitanica Portuguese 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.
Evergreen Trees Direct Has Been Featured In:
Plant Your Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel With:
Type: Hedging and Screening Trees
Camellia sasanqua 'Setsugekka'
Type: Hedging and Screening Trees
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Silver Sheen'
Type: Australian Native
Viburnum tinus
Type: Hedging and Screening Trees
Rhaphiolepis indica 'Snow Maiden'
Type: Structural Foliage
Buxus sempervirens English Box Topiary Balls
Uses in my Garden
Uses in my Garden
Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel works in an:
Is Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel Evergreen or Deciduous?
Is Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel Evergreen or Deciduous?
Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree
Mature Height & Width
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 Portuguese Laurel is expected to grow Approx. 30 – 50 cm/year (Moderate).
Growth Rate of Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel
Growth Rate of Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel
Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel is expected to grow Approx. 30 – 50 cm/year (Moderate).
They are considered to have a:
Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel
Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel
Is Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel frost tolerant?
Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel is Frost Hardy – Survives heavy and frequent frost without damage.
Does Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel Flower?
Does Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel Flower?
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 Portuguese Laurel flower?
Flowering Period:
Flower Type:
Flower Colour:
White
Is Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel an Australian Native Tree?
Is Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel an Australian Native Tree?
No
Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel is Native to South-western Europe and North Africa, particularly Portugal, Spain, and Morocco, where it grows naturally in woodlands and mountain slopes.
What is the Wildlife Value of Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel ?
What is the Wildlife Value of Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel ?
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.
How much Sunlight does Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel need?
How much Sunlight does Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel need?
Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel will thrive best in:
Preferred Soil?
Preferred 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.
Is Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel Drought Tolerant?
Is Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel Drought Tolerant?
Is Prunus lusitanica Portuguese 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.
Planting Information
How To Plant Your Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel
How To Plant Your Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel
Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel
Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel
Prunus lusitanica Portuguese Laurel is expected to grow Approx. 30 – 50 cm/year (Moderate).



