Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica) is a popular evergreen hedging plant in Ireland, known for its dense dark green foliage, neat appearance and year-round screening.
With smaller leaves than traditional Cherry Laurel and attractive reddish stems, Portuguese Laurel is particularly well suited to formal hedging, garden boundaries and privacy screening.
If you’re ready to plant, you can view our Portuguese Laurel Hedging Plants, available from Cullen Nurseries.
Portuguese Laurel is a good choice if you want the privacy and year-round foliage of an evergreen Laurel hedge but prefer a smaller leaf and more refined appearance.
It responds extremely well to trimming, making it particularly suitable for creating a neat, structured hedge. It can also be allowed to grow taller where additional screening is required.
Once established, Portuguese Laurel is hardy and well suited to Irish growing conditions.
Potted Portuguese Laurel can be planted throughout the year, provided the ground is workable and conditions are suitable.
Spring and autumn are particularly good planting periods because temperatures are generally moderate and the soil is less likely to dry out quickly.
If planting during warmer weather, regular watering will be particularly important while the new root system establishes.
For a dense hedge, we recommend planting approximately 3 Portuguese Laurel plants per metre in a single row.
This works out at roughly 13 inches between plants. The exact spacing can vary depending on the size of plants being used and how quickly you want the hedge to fill out.
Portuguese Laurel grows well in full sun or partial shade and is suitable for most reasonably fertile, well-drained soils.
Before planting, clear grass and weeds from the area so the new hedge doesn’t have to compete for moisture and nutrients while establishing.
A little time spent preparing the ground before planting can make a big difference to the early growth of your hedge.
For longer hedges, you can also use a mini digger to create a planting trench approximately 9-10 inches wide and 8-9 inches deep rather than digging individual holes.
Consistent watering is particularly important during the first year after planting. The aim is to encourage the plants to establish a strong root system before they have to cope with prolonged dry conditions.
For longer hedges, a soaker or porous hose can make watering considerably easier by delivering water slowly along the length of the hedge.
Pay particular attention to newly planted hedging during dry periods in spring and summer.
Keeping grass and weeds away from the base of newly planted hedging reduces competition for both nutrients and water.
Adding organic matter when preparing the planting area can also help improve the soil.
Our Organic Chicken Manure Pellets can be incorporated into your normal garden feeding routine to provide nutrients for established plants.
A layer of bark mulch around the base of the hedge can help suppress weeds and retain moisture, particularly during warmer weather.
Portuguese Laurel responds very well to regular pruning and can be maintained as a neat formal hedge.
During the early years, trimming the sides encourages branching and helps the hedge develop denser growth. Once the hedge reaches the required height, the top can also be trimmed to maintain its shape.
Before carrying out any hedge cutting, always check carefully for active bird nests.
Both make excellent evergreen hedges, but they have quite different appearances.
Cherry Laurel Rotundifolia has larger leaves and generally grows more vigorously, making it particularly useful when fast, dense screening is the main priority.
Portuguese Laurel has smaller dark green leaves, reddish stems and a more refined appearance, making it particularly attractive for formal garden hedging.
If space is limited, Genolia Laurel is another option worth considering because of its naturally narrow, upright growth habit.
You can also compare our full range of Laurel Hedging Plants.
Watch our step-by-step video showing how to plant Portuguese Laurel hedging:
Watch our Portuguese Laurel planting guide.
If Portuguese Laurel isn’t quite right for your site, there are several other evergreen hedging plants worth considering:
Yes. Portuguese Laurel is evergreen and retains its dark green foliage throughout the year, making it useful for year-round privacy and screening.
Once established in suitable conditions, Portuguese Laurel typically grows approximately 30-45cm per year.
We recommend approximately 3 plants per metre in a single row for a dense Portuguese Laurel hedge.
Portuguese Laurel can eventually develop into a substantial hedge or small tree if left untrimmed. As a hedge, regular pruning allows it to be maintained at a much lower height to suit the garden or boundary.
Yes. Portuguese Laurel can grow in full sun or partial shade, although the overall growth and density of the hedge will depend on the site and available light.
Portuguese Laurel can tolerate some exposed conditions, but the suitability of any hedge close to the coast will depend on the level of salt and wind exposure. For particularly exposed coastal sites, see our advice on choosing coastal hedging plants.
Potted Portuguese Laurel can be planted throughout the year provided the ground is not frozen, waterlogged or exceptionally dry.
Portuguese Laurel is an excellent choice for a dense evergreen hedge with smaller leaves and a neat, formal appearance.
View our Portuguese Laurel Hedging Plants available from Cullen Nurseries, or contact us if you need help choosing plant sizes or calculating how many plants you’ll need for your hedge.
Bare-root season is coming!
Thanks for visiting Cullen Nurseries. Our bare-root and rootballed harvest begins in November, when the trees and hedging are fully dormant and ready to lift.
You can order now to secure your plants.
Lifting fresh from our fields to order means your plants reach you in the best possible condition, ready to plant.
Potted plants are available all year round and can be dispatched now.
Questions? Call us or WhatsApp us, and we’re always happy to help.
