Prunus lusitanica, commonly known as Portuguese Laurel, is a broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree valued for its dark green, glossy foliage, red stems, and fragrant white flower spikes that bloom in early summer. It grows 10 to 20 feet tall and wide, making it ideal for use as a privacy hedge, formal screen, or specimen shrub. Portuguese Laurel is tolerant of shearing, urban pollution, and a wide range of soil types. While it’s elegant and adaptable, it is not native to North America and provides limited ecological benefit to local wildlife.

Why choose Portuguese Laurel:

• Elegant appearance: Glossy dark green foliage with striking red stems

• Evergreen structure: Provides year-round screening and foundation coverage

• Urban tough: Tolerates shearing, compacted soils, and air pollution

Cultivating tips:

• Sun exposure: Grows in full sun to part shade

• Soil needs: Adapts to most well-drained soils, including clay and loam

• Maintenance: Prune to shape or maintain as a hedge in early spring or mid-summer

Designs for your garden:

• Privacy hedges: Dense growth makes it ideal for screening and sound barriers

• Formal landscapes: Responds well to shaping and structural design

• Mixed borders: Adds evergreen structure and contrast in large planting beds

Ecological considerations:

• Non-native species: Provides little benefit to native pollinators or wildlife

• Low biodiversity value: Best paired with native plants to support local ecosystems

• Caution in sensitive areas: Can become invasive in some climates

Looking for native alternatives?

Ilex glabra ‘Compacta’ – Compact Inkberry: A dense, evergreen native holly ideal for hedging and foundation plantings
Ilex glabra ‘Shamrock’ – Shamrock Inkberry: A compact, mounding native evergreen with glossy foliage and strong shade tolerance.
Ilex opaca – American Holly: A tall, pyramidal native holly with dark green foliage and red berries that support winter birds and native insects.