Plant DetailShow Menu

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

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:
Tags:
#evergreen#pollinator plant#larval host plant#butterfly friendly#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#pollinator plant#larval host plant#butterfly friendly#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly#wildlife friendly
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Habit/Form:
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Black
    Dark Brown
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Problems:
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • 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