Pot Grown Portuguese Laurel
(Prunus lusitanica)

The hedge boasts dark green, luscious glossy, and pointed leaves, on distinctive deep pink/maroon stems, and is known to have similarities to the Bay Laurel, making it the perfect choice of hedge for any traditional garden.

Sitting as quite an elegant evergreen hedge, the Portuguese Laurel also offers delicate, fragrant, small, white flowers that blossom in the summer and easily attract the bees and butterflies- as well as delivering small red fruits for the birds. It is the perfect hedge for offering wind protection, noise reduction and year-round screening, as well as being a reasonably fast growing, compact hedge, proving it to be suitable for any garden style.

Prunus lusitanica Angustifolia is rather easy to grow and can tolerate all soil conditions/situations (even dry shade)- Chalk soils are a great choice for the Portuguese Laurel. Though, we do recommend that, if growing in dry shade, you keep the plant fed and moist until it is established, and we do not advise planting in coastal positions. It is rather hardy and resilient, but some wind protection may also be needed in places where windburn could be seen as a potential problem. You must also note that the leaves and berries are harmful if eaten, as with other varieties in the Laurel family (except Bay).

• Growth rate:̴Ì?Average (20-40cm per year)
• Ideal Height: 2.5m+ Tall
• Soil Type: Normal
• Exposure: Exposed, Inland
• Aspect: Full shade, sun
• Evergreen foliage? Yes

As it is pot grown, you can easily leave the plant in its pot for a few days/weeks before planting it. Just ensure you keep the plant well-watered, and it gets enough sun. Don't leave it for too long, however, as you don't want the roots becoming root bound.

The Portuguese Laurel hedging plant has a medium growth rate, meaning it is rather easy to maintain and shape. You should find it only needs one trim a year (in late Summer), however, if you want it to grow very tall, pruning can be left longer than this.

1. Prepare the soil by mixing in some compost. Dig the hole- this will have to be about twice the width of the root system, but the same depth.
2. Remove the plant from its pot by placing one hand on the base of the plant, and the other at the bottom of the pot. Wriggle the pot away gently.
3. Untangle the roots a little as they may be clumped together.
4. Place the plant into the hole, ensuring the base of the stem is level with the surface of the soil. Follow this with backfilling the hole with your soil mix, and patting down lightly to secure.
5. When you're done, thoroughly water the plant. Ensure you regularly water throughout its first year, as the plant needs plenty to be able to settle down, recover, and establish.