Portuguese Laurel Pot Grown Hedging

Elegant Evergreen Hedging – Available All Year Round

Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica) is a beautiful evergreen hedging plant, admired for its glossy dark green leaves, rich red stems and naturally dense, tidy growth. More refined than Cherry Laurel, it is a popular choice for creating smart garden boundaries, formal hedges and year-round privacy.

Supplied pot grown, Portuguese Laurel can be planted throughout the year whenever ground conditions are suitable. Each plant has an established root system, helping it settle quickly and continue growing with minimal disturbance.

Available in a range of sizes, Portuguese Laurel is ideal for domestic gardens, commercial landscapes, estates and screening projects where an elegant evergreen hedge is required.

Why Choose Pot-Grown Portuguese Laurel?

Pot-grown Portuguese Laurel offers complete flexibility, allowing you to plant outside the traditional bare root and rootball season.

Each plant is supplied in its own container with a healthy, established root system, making planting straightforward and helping the hedge establish quickly.

Benefits include:

• Available all year round
• Attractive evergreen foliage
• Distinctive red stems
• Dense, naturally bushy growth
• Excellent for formal hedging
• Suitable for sun or partial shade
• Easy to maintain
• Suitable for a wide range of garden styles
• Long-lasting year-round screening

With the correct planting and aftercare, Portuguese Laurel develops into a beautiful evergreen hedge that offers privacy, structure and seasonal interest.

Why Choose Portuguese Laurel?

Portuguese Laurel is often chosen where a more refined appearance is preferred over the larger leaves of Cherry Laurel.

Its smaller, glossy leaves and attractive burgundy stems create an elegant hedge that responds exceptionally well to clipping, making it ideal for formal gardens and contemporary landscapes.

Established plants also produce fragrant white flower spikes during early summer, followed by small dark berries later in the season.

Portuguese Laurel is perfect for:

• Garden boundaries
• Privacy screening
• Formal hedging
• Contemporary gardens
• Traditional landscapes
• Commercial planting
• Urban gardens
• Estate planting

Choosing the Right Size

Portuguese Laurel is available in a range of sizes to suit every project.

Smaller plants provide an economical option for creating longer hedge runs and establish quickly with good aftercare.

Larger plants offer more immediate impact and privacy, making them ideal where instant screening is required.

Whichever size you choose, regular watering during the first growing season is essential for successful establishment.

Planting Pot-Grown Portuguese Laurel

Portuguese Laurel can be planted throughout the year provided the ground is not frozen, waterlogged or excessively dry.

1. Water Before Planting

Water the plant thoroughly while it is still in its container.

2. Prepare the Ground

Remove weeds and dig a planting hole approximately twice the width of the rootball, loosening the surrounding soil.

3. Plant at the Correct Depth

Position the plant so the top of the rootball is level with the surrounding soil.

4. Backfill

Backfill using the excavated soil and gently firm around the rootball to remove air pockets.

5. Water Thoroughly

Water generously immediately after planting and continue watering regularly throughout the establishment period.

Planting Distances

The spacing required will depend on the size of the plants and how quickly you would like the hedge to become established.

As a general guide:

• Smaller plants: 3 plants per metre
• Medium plants: 2–3 plants per metre
• Larger plants: 1.5–2 plants per metre

Always refer to the individual product page for recommended planting distances.

Soil and Position

Portuguese Laurel is adaptable and performs well in a wide variety of garden conditions.

Suitable for:

• Chalk
• Clay
• Loam
• Sandy soils
• Moist but well-drained ground

It thrives in:

• Full sun
• Partial shade
• Sheltered gardens
• Urban environments
• Coastal gardens with some shelter

Avoid permanently waterlogged ground.

Watering and Aftercare

Regular watering is essential while newly planted Portuguese Laurel establishes.

Water deeply rather than little and often, ensuring the entire rootball becomes saturated.

For best results:

• Water thoroughly after planting.
• Continue watering during prolonged dry weather.
• Keep weeds and grass away from the base.
• Apply mulch to help retain moisture.
• Keep mulch clear of the stem.
• Monitor soil moisture throughout the first growing season.

Once established, Portuguese Laurel is relatively drought tolerant.

Feeding

Portuguese Laurel usually requires very little feeding when planted into reasonably fertile soil.

If necessary, apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser during spring once the plants are actively growing.

Avoid overfeeding newly planted hedging.

Pruning Portuguese Laurel

Portuguese Laurel responds exceptionally well to clipping, making it one of the finest evergreen hedging plants for formal gardens.

For best results:

• Trim once or twice each year.
• Lightly prune during late spring or late summer.
• Remove damaged or crossing branches.
• Avoid heavy pruning during hot, dry weather.
• Check for nesting birds before trimming.

Regular pruning encourages dense, healthy growth from the base upwards.

Portuguese Laurel Pot-Grown Hedging FAQs

When can pot-grown Portuguese Laurel be planted?

Pot-grown Portuguese Laurel can be planted throughout the year whenever the ground is workable and not frozen or waterlogged.

Is Portuguese Laurel evergreen?

Yes. Portuguese Laurel retains its attractive dark green foliage throughout the year, providing permanent screening and structure.

How quickly does Portuguese Laurel grow?

Portuguese Laurel is a moderate to fast-growing hedge, typically producing around 30–45cm of growth each year under good growing conditions.

Is Portuguese Laurel suitable for shade?

Yes. It grows well in both full sun and partial shade, although the best growth is usually achieved with some sunlight.

How often should newly planted Portuguese Laurel be watered?

Water thoroughly immediately after planting and continue deep watering during dry weather throughout the first growing season.

What makes Portuguese Laurel different from Cherry Laurel?

Portuguese Laurel has smaller, darker green leaves, attractive red stems and a more refined appearance than Cherry Laurel. It is often preferred for formal gardens and contemporary planting schemes.

Is Portuguese Laurel suitable for coastal gardens?

Yes. Portuguese Laurel has good tolerance to coastal conditions when planted in sheltered positions away from strong salt-laden winds.

Can Portuguese Laurel be clipped into a formal hedge?

Absolutely. Its naturally dense habit and smaller leaves make it one of the best evergreen plants for creating crisp, formal hedges.

Are Portuguese Laurel berries edible?

No. The berries, leaves and all other parts of the plant should not be eaten and should be kept away from children and pets.

Order Your Pot-Grown Portuguese Laurel Today

Portuguese Laurel is one of the UK's finest evergreen hedging plants, combining elegant foliage, attractive red stems and dense year-round screening.

Perfect for formal gardens, contemporary landscapes and traditional boundaries alike, it creates a beautiful hedge that is easy to maintain and provides lasting privacy.

Browse our range of premium pot-grown Portuguese Laurel and choose from a variety of sizes to create an attractive evergreen hedge that will thrive for years to come.