Portuguese Laurel 'Myrtifolia' (Prunus lusitanica 'Myrtifolia') – Elegant, Refined Evergreen for Hedging, Screening & Specimen Planting
Prunus lusitanica 'Myrtifolia', commonly known as Portuguese Laurel, is one of the most elegant and versatile evergreen shrubs available for UK gardens. Admired for its neat, compact habit and smaller, darker leaves than its close relative Cherry Laurel, this refined cultivar brings a sense of year-round structure and sophistication to any planting scheme. Whether clipped into a formal hedge or left to develop naturally as a multi-stemmed specimen, it never fails to impress.
More restrained in growth than many laurels, 'Myrtifolia' is a particularly well-mannered garden plant — equally at home in a smart urban courtyard, a country garden boundary, or a formal parterre. In early summer it bears slender, graceful racemes of small white flowers with a delicate honey fragrance, followed by small red fruits that ripen to deep purple-black in autumn, much loved by birds.
Key Features
Compact, elegant evergreen with small, deep glossy-green leaves and attractive red stems
More refined and slower-growing than Cherry Laurel — ideal where a neater habit is required
Fragrant white flower racemes in early summer, followed by wildlife-friendly fruits
Excellent for formal clipped hedging, topiary, specimen planting, or informal screening
Fully hardy, tolerant of pollution, and suited to a wide range of conditions
Growing Conditions
Position: Prunus lusitanica 'Myrtifolia' thrives in full sun or partial shade. It performs admirably in both open, exposed positions and sheltered garden settings. Unlike some evergreens, it is also tolerant of coastal winds and urban pollution, making it a practical choice for a broad range of environments.
Soil: Adaptable to most well-drained soil types, including chalk, loam, and light clay. It prefers a moist but free-draining growing medium and benefits from reasonable fertility. Avoid permanently waterlogged conditions, which can cause root problems over time. Once established, it shows good drought tolerance.
Hardiness: Fully hardy throughout the UK and much of Northern Europe. It withstands hard frosts without significant damage and holds its foliage in excellent condition through winter — one of the key reasons it is so highly regarded as a year-round garden plant.
Habit & Appearance
Foliage: The leaves of 'Myrtifolia' are notably smaller and more refined than other laurels — ovate, glossy, and a deep, rich green with a slightly wavy margin. Young shoots emerge with an attractive reddish-purple flush, and the leaf stalks and stems retain a pleasing dark red colouration throughout the year, adding subtle detail even in winter.
Flowers & Fruit: In early to midsummer, 'Myrtifolia' produces slender, arching racemes of small, creamy-white flowers with a gentle, sweet fragrance — an appealing seasonal feature often underappreciated on a plant so commonly used for screening. These are followed by small fruits that turn from red to deep purple-black as autumn progresses, providing valuable food for birds and other wildlife.
Ultimate Size: Left unclipped, Portuguese Laurel will develop into a large, multi-stemmed shrub or small tree, ultimately reaching 4–6m in height with a spread of 3–4m. Growth is steady rather than rampant — typically 20–40cm per year — making it easier to manage than faster-growing alternatives. It responds very well to pruning and can be maintained at almost any size.
Care & Pruning
Watering: Water consistently during the first growing season to encourage a well-established root system. Once settled, Portuguese Laurel is pleasingly low-maintenance with regard to irrigation and will cope well in typical UK rainfall without supplementary watering in most situations.
Feeding: Apply a balanced general-purpose or slow-release fertiliser in spring to support healthy, even growth. An annual mulch of well-rotted garden compost or bark around the base will help retain soil moisture, improve soil structure, and suppress competing weeds — particularly beneficial in the establishment years.
Pruning: For a formal clipped hedge or topiary shape, trim once or twice a year — ideally in late spring and again in late summer if a second cut is required. Because the leaves are smaller than those of Cherry Laurel, powered hedge trimmers can be used with good results and without the unsightly cut-leaf browning that can affect larger-leaved varieties. For a more relaxed, informal appearance, 'Myrtifolia' requires very little intervention — simply remove any crossing, awkward, or unbalanced branches in late spring to keep the plant well-shaped.
Pests & Disease: Portuguese Laurel is generally robust and largely trouble-free. It is notably less susceptible to the shot hole fungal disease that can occasionally affect Cherry Laurel. In very wet conditions, keep an eye out for signs of root rot in poorly drained soils — prevention through good site preparation is always the best approach.
With its refined foliage, attractive stems, seasonal flowers, and obliging nature,
