About Portuguese laurel
Portuguese laurel is an evergreen that gets overlooked far too often. It’s native to Spain and Portugal, south-west France, Morocco and the Atlantic islands of Macaronesia, and in the wild it’s uncommon, usually found along mountain streams. It reached Britain in 1648, during the reign of Charles I, and the Victorians later planted it for privacy.
It makes a very dense hedge of dark, glossy green leaves. They’re smaller than cherry laurel leaves and look a bit like bay. New stems are a deep rhubarb red, and the green and red look good together on a dull winter day.
In early summer it carries spikes of small white flowers that smell a little like hawthorn, which makes sense, as both are in the rose family. Red fruits follow in autumn and darken to purple. Birds love them. It was once planted in woodland where game birds fed, on the theory that the fruit gave the meat a better flavour.
Portuguese laurel or cherry laurel?
Portuguese laurel is hardier than cherry laurel, and less vigorous and invasive. We think its smaller, softer, neatly serrated leaves make it the better-looking plant. Because the leaves resemble bay, it’s also a good stand-in for bay in colder gardens where bay struggles.
If you want the fastest, cheapest screen, go for cherry laurel. If you want a neater-looking hedge, have a cold or chalky garden, or plan to clip shapes, go for Portuguese.
Growing Portuguese laurel
Portuguese laurel grows in full sun or partial shade, though it’s happiest in light shade. Any moist, well-drained and reasonably fertile soil suits it, chalk included. It’s hardy enough for any aspect but does better with some shelter from cold winds.
It’s easy to grow; just water new plants well through their first season. Growth is fast, up to 40 to 45cm a year, and if you never trimmed it, it could eventually become a tree of around 18 metres.
Portuguese laurel care
Pruning
Trim a Portuguese laurel hedge lightly twice in summer, with the first cut around June. Secateurs or hand shears give the best finish.
It takes clipping well, and its soft shapes look good next to sharper, smaller-leaved box and holly. Clip topiary three times a year, in February, June and October, to keep it crisp, and check for nesting birds before any summer trim.
Pests and diseases
Portuguese laurel is generally trouble-free. Powdery mildew can appear in dry, crowded conditions, and vine weevil and leaf-mining moths may damage the leaves.
Is Portuguese laurel poisonous?
Yes. Like cherry laurel, its leaves and seeds are toxic if eaten, so keep clippings away from livestock and never use the leaves in cooking.
