Prunus lusitanica (Portugal Laurel)

Native to the Iberian Peninsula, Prunus lusitanica (Portugal Laurel) is a beautiful, large evergreen shrub or small tree with dark brown bark, glossy dark green, leathery leaves (5 in. long or 12 cm), and stems of a lovely deep rhubarb color. It is decorated in late spring or early summer with a profusion of pretty racemes of fragrant, tiny white flowers, followed by small red cherries that ripen to dark purple by fall. While the ripe berries should not be consumed, birds will strip them all once they are ripe. Portugal Laurel is a superb plant for hedges, screens, and windbreaks.

• Grows up with a dense, spreading, bushy habit to 25 ft. tall (7.5 m) and 15 ft. wide (4.5 m)
• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society and winner of the Gold Medal Award of The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
• A full sun or part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils. Thrives on poor, shallow, chalky soils too. Portugal laurel is slightly slower growing than cherry laurel (Prunus caroliniana) but more tolerant of heat, sun, wind, and drought.
• Perfect as a specimen plant, for hedges or screens, and in shrub borders.
• Deer resistant!
• Low maintenance, the leaves of this lovely shrub may be damaged by vine weevil, leaf-mining moths, or powdery mildews
• Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer
• Toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. Leaves and fruit may be harmful if ingested