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Prunus lusitanica (Portugal laurel)
1 hour care
per year
per year
15m
Max height
Max height
12m
Max spread
Max spread
10-20 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Prunus lusitanica
Other names
Portugal laurel, Portuguese cherry laurel, Portuguese laurel
Genus
Prunus Prunus
Species
P. lusitanica - P. lusitanica is a dense, bushy, spreading, evergreen shrub or small tree with dark red shoots, ovate to elliptic, glossy, dark green leaves and, in early summer, racemes of small, cup-shaped, fragrant, white flowers followed by red fruit that ripen to black.
Prunus lusitanica is: Evergreen
Tree shape
Rounded to broadly spreading
Toxicity
Fruit may cause severe discomfort when ingested
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Flower
White in Summer
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Leaf mining moths , Vine weevil Leaf mining moths , Vine weevil
Powdery mildew , Silver leaf Powdery mildew , Silver leaf
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 1. Prune in midsummer in areas where silver leaf is present.
Propagation methods
Softwood cuttings
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Where to grow
Prunus lusitanica (Portugal laurel) will reach a height of 15m and a spread of 12m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Hedging/Screens, Low Maintenance
Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Suitable for hedging. Easily tolerates poor, shallow, chalky soil.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
Botanical name
Prunus lusitanica
Other names
Portugal laurel, Portuguese cherry laurel, Portuguese laurel
Genus
Prunus Prunus
Species
P. lusitanica - P. lusitanica is a dense, bushy, spreading, evergreen shrub or small tree with dark red shoots, ovate to elliptic, glossy, dark green leaves and, in early summer, racemes of small, cup-shaped, fragrant, white flowers followed by red fruit that ripen to black.
Foliage
Evergreen
Tree shape
Rounded to broadly spreading
Toxicity
Fruit may cause severe discomfort when ingested
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
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Colour
Flower
White in Summer
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Leaf mining moths , Vine weevil
Specific diseases
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 1. Prune in midsummer in areas where silver leaf is present.
Propagation methods
Softwood cuttings
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Prunus lusitanica (Portugal laurel) will reach a height of 15m and a spread of 12m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Hedging/Screens, Low Maintenance
Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Suitable for hedging. Easily tolerates poor, shallow, chalky soil.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
North, South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7
Defra's Risk register #1
Plant name
Prunus lusitanica (Portugal laurel)
Common pest name
Chlorotic leafroll of apricot; Chlorotic leafroll of nectarine; Chlorotic leafroll of peach; Decline of Japanese plum; Decline of peach; Dieback of apricot; European stone fruit yellows; European yellows of peach; Italian rosette of peach; Leptonecrosis of plum; MoliĀres disease of cherry; Vein clearing of peach; Vein enlargement of peach
Scientific pest name
Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum
Type
Phytoplasma
Current status in UK
Absent
Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
2
Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
5
General biosecurity comments
EU regulation appears satisfactory for UK; willing to participate in future review of EU listing.
Defra's Risk register #2
Plant name
Prunus lusitanica (Portugal laurel)
Common pest name
grape ground pearl
Scientific pest name
Margarodes vitis
Type
Insect
Current status in UK
Absent
Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
2
Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
5
General biosecurity comments
Main pathway; Vitis spp. plants for planting; already prohibited. However; further consideration of other pathways is required.
Defra's Risk register #3
Plant name
Prunus lusitanica (Portugal laurel)
Common pest name
Peach red-necked longhorn; Plum and peach longhorn; red-necked longhorn
Scientific pest name
Aromia bungii
Type
Insect
Current status in UK
Absent
Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
4
Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
4
General biosecurity comments
A pest mainly of Prunus previously intercepted in the UK on wooden packaging imported from China. There have been longstanding outbreaks of the pest in Italy; a source of significant trade in plants for instant landscapes; and also findings in Germany. The UK will press for early EU regulation and consider UK national measures if risk increases.
About this section
Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.
Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here
Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.
Date updated: 7th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/
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Prunus lusitanica grown as a standard
Prunus lusitanica form
Prunus lusitanica
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | North, South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
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Pruning Prunus lusitanica
Prunus lusitanica
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