Create Your Garden

Prunus lusitanica (Portugal Laurel)

Portugal Laurel, Cherry Bay, Portuguese Laurel Cherry

AGM Award
Prunus lusitanica, Portugal Laurel, Cherry Bay, Portuguese Laurel Cherry, Evergreen Shrub, Evergreen Tree, Fragrant Shrub, Fragrant Tree
Prunus lusitanica, Portugal Laurel, Cherry Bay, Portuguese Laurel Cherry, Evergreen Shrub, Evergreen Tree, Fragrant Shrub, Fragrant Tree

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

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Heat Zones 4 - 9
Climate Zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Shrubs, Trees
Plant Family Rosaceae
Genus Prunus - Flowering Cherry Tree
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height 20' - 30' (6.1m - 9.1m)
Spread 10' - 15' (3m - 4.6m)
Spacing 144" (3.7m)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries
Tolerance Drought, Deer
Attracts Birds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Prunus (Cherry Tree)
Not sure which Prunus (Cherry Tree) to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Prunus mume (Plum Blossom)
Prunus x cistena (Purple-Leaf Sand Cherry)
Prunus ilicifolia (Hollyleaf Cherry)
Prunus serotina (Black Cherry)
Prunus caroliniana (Carolina Cherry Laurel)
Prunus americana (American Plum)

Recommended Companion Plants

Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’ (Catmint)
Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s Mantle)
Viburnum tinus (Laurustinus)
Osmanthus heterophyllus (Holly Osmanthus)
Aucuba japonica (Spotted Laurel)
Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

A Lovely Mediterranean Path
Small Trees and Shrubs That Attract Birds
Small Trees and Shrubs That Bloom In Fall
Small Trees and Shrubs That Bloom In Winter
Roots of Life: Exploring the Diverse World of Trees
Prunus (Cherry Blossom)
Green Canopy, Better World: Exploring the Benefits of Trees
Trees that Invite Wildlife to Your Garden
35 Best Flowering Trees for a Spectacular Garden Display
Prunus x yedoensis (Yoshino Cherry Blossom)
Prunus pendula (Weeping Cherry Blossom)
Prunus x subhirtella (Higan Cherry)
Prunus serrulata (Japanese Cherry Blossom)
Shrubs and Trees with Attractive Winter Bark
Great Shrubs with Berries for Winter Interest for New England
Late Season Flowering Cherry Trees for Your Garden
Midseason Flowering Cherry Trees for Your Garden
Early Season Flowering Cherry Trees for Your Garden
Blooming Seasons of Cherry Blossom Trees
Fragrant Flowering Cherry Trees for Your Garden
Flowering Cherry Trees with Attractive Fall Colors
Favorite Weeping Cherry Blossoms for Your Garden
Which Cherry Blossom Tree for my Garden?
Pretty Cherry Blossom Trees for Your Garden
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Heat Zones 4 - 9
Climate Zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Shrubs, Trees
Plant Family Rosaceae
Genus Prunus - Flowering Cherry Tree
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height 20' - 30' (6.1m - 9.1m)
Spread 10' - 15' (3m - 4.6m)
Spacing 144" (3.7m)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries
Tolerance Drought, Deer
Attracts Birds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Prunus (Cherry Tree)
Not sure which Prunus (Cherry Tree) to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Prunus lusitanica (Portugal Laurel) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Prunus lusitanica (Portugal Laurel) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone