Prunus lusitanica
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PROO-nus loo-see-TAN-ee-kuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Portugal Laurel is an evergreen shrub or tree in the rose family native to Portugal and Spain. It grows 10-2- feet tall and wide, taller if pruned to a tree form. As a shrub, it is dense and rounded in form and can be pruned as a hedge. The leaves are glossy dark green and in spring there are fragrant clusters up to 6-10 inches long of white flowers. These are followed by purple berry-like drupes.
This shrub is easy to grow in average moist, well-drained soils and is drought tolerant once established. It can be propagated in spring by softwood stem cuttings.
Use this plant as a hedge or privacy screen or even as a topiary specimen.
Pests: Leaves may be damaged by vine weevil and leaf-mining moths. Diseases- powdery mildew
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Paths & Walkways
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- lusitanica
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Spain and Portugal
- Wildlife Value:
- This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 8–13 mm dark purple fruits in clusters up to e inches.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- .3 to .5 in. white fragrant flowers on 6 to 10 in. narrow racemes in summer
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2.5 to 5 in. alternate, simple, glossy dark green leaves with lighter undersides. Margins dentate and apex acute.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Black
- Dark Brown
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting: brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Cyanogenic glycosides
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Seeds
- Stems
