Portuguese Cherrylaurel Prunus lusitanica
Other 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 a flowering, evergreen shrub or tree in the rose family native to the mountainous forests of the Iberian Peninsula. At maturity, 20 to 50 years, it will grow to 10 to 12 feet tall and wide. It will likely be taller if pruned to a tree form. As a shrub, it is dense and rounded in form and can be pruned as a hedge. This ornamental plant has glossy dark green leaves and, in spring, there are fragrant clusters up to 6 to 10 inches long of white flowers. These are followed by purple berry-like drupes. The species name comes from the Latin, Lusitania, which was Rome's name for Portugal.
This shrub is easy to grow in average moist, well-drained soils in full sun or partial shade and is drought tolerant once established. It can be propagated in spring by softwood stem cuttings and is very tolerant of pruning.
The Clemson Home and Garden Information Center has an information page on cherry laurels, including P. lusitanica.
Use this plant as a hedge or privacy screen or even as a topiary specimen.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
Leaves may be damaged by vine weevil and leaf-mining moths. Powdery mildew is possible.
- 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
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- A green dye can be obtained from the leaves or fruit.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Spain and Portugal, Morocco
- Distribution:
- Great Britain, United States west coast
- 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.
- Edibility:
- The fruit is edible if fully ripe, but if it is bitter, it is toxic and should not be eaten.
- 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
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- 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 Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Small cherry-like drupe 1/2 inch in diameter, green or reddish green at first, turning dark purple or black when ripe in late summer or early autumn.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Wheel
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small, 1/2 inch, white fragrant flowers on 6 to 10 inch narrow racemes in summer. Flowers have five small white petals.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, glossy dark green leaves and 2/1/2 to 5 inches long with light undersides. They resemble bay laurel.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Black
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Border
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Belongs to a genus whose stems, leaves, and seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting. Can produce brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Cyanogenic glycosides
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Seeds
- Stems
