{"product_id":"big-deal-portuguese-laurel-hedging-80-100cm-root-ball-x-20","title":"Big Deal Portuguese Laurel Hedging 80\/100cm Root Ball x 20","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePortuguese Laurel (\u003cem\u003ePrunus lusitanica\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003c\/strong\u003e – Refined, Hardy Evergreen for Hedging, Topiary \u0026amp; Specimen Planting\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePrunus lusitanica\u003c\/em\u003e, widely known as \u003cstrong\u003ePortuguese Laurel\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most elegant and versatile evergreen shrubs and small trees available for UK gardens. Its distinctive deep green, oval leaves carried on rich crimson-red stalks give it a polished, refined quality that immediately sets it apart from other laurels. Whether trained as a crisp formal hedge, shaped into topiary, grown as a graceful multi-stemmed specimen, or allowed to mature naturally into a small tree, Portuguese Laurel brings lasting beauty and structure to almost any setting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMore moderate in pace than Cherry Laurel, it rewards patience with a naturally dense, shapely habit and exceptional year-round presence. In early summer, slender racemes of small, creamy-white flowers appear with a soft, pleasant fragrance, followed by strings of fruits that ripen from bright red to deep purple-black in autumn — a valuable and attractive food source for birds. Hardy, long-lived, and remarkably adaptable, Portuguese Laurel is a plant that genuinely improves with age and suits both traditional and contemporary garden styles with equal ease.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eHandsome evergreen foliage — deep lustrous green leaves on striking red stalks\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eOutstanding for formal hedging, topiary, screening, and specimen planting\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eFragrant white flower racemes in early summer, followed by wildlife-friendly berries\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eFully hardy and tolerant of exposed, coastal, and urban conditions\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eMore refined and manageable than Cherry Laurel — a premium choice for quality gardens\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowing Conditions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003ePrunus lusitanica\u003c\/em\u003e thrives in \u003cstrong\u003efull sun or partial shade\u003c\/strong\u003e and is notably tolerant of exposed, windy, and coastal positions, making it an excellent choice for boundary plantings and open or challenging sites. It will also perform adequately on north-facing aspects, though growth may be somewhat more open in deep shade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Adaptable to a broad range of soil types — including chalk, clay, loam, and sandy soils — provided the ground is \u003cstrong\u003ereasonably well-drained\u003c\/strong\u003e. It prefers a moist, fertile growing medium but establishes well in drier conditions once the root system has settled. Avoid permanently waterlogged ground, which may cause root problems over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fully hardy throughout the UK, tolerating temperatures well below freezing with confidence. Portuguese Laurel shows excellent cold resilience compared with many other evergreens and is well suited to gardens across all UK regions, including more northerly and exposed locations. RHS Hardiness Rating: \u003cstrong\u003eH5\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHabit \u0026amp; Appearance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leaves are oval, pointed, and a deep, lustrous dark green — notably smaller and more refined in scale than those of Cherry Laurel — held on striking \u003cstrong\u003ecrimson-red petioles\u003c\/strong\u003e that provide a subtle but distinctive colour accent throughout the year. The foliage is dense and well-held, giving clipped plants a crisp, clean finish that makes this species a favourite for topiary and formal hedging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers \u0026amp; Fruit:\u003c\/strong\u003e In \u003cstrong\u003eearly to midsummer\u003c\/strong\u003e, graceful, slender racemes of small creamy-white flowers open along the branch tips, carrying a soft, pleasant fragrance. These give way to chains of small oval fruits that colour from bright red through to deep purple-black as they ripen into autumn, providing an attractive seasonal display and a generous food source for birds and other wildlife.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUltimate Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e Left unpruned, Portuguese Laurel will develop naturally into a \u003cstrong\u003elarge, multi-stemmed shrub or small tree, typically reaching 6–10m in height\u003c\/strong\u003e with a handsome, rounded crown. Growth is considerably more moderate than Cherry Laurel — typically \u003cstrong\u003e20–40cm per year\u003c\/strong\u003e — making it easier to keep at a chosen size with only occasional attention, and well suited to smaller spaces where a more disciplined habit is desirable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare \u0026amp; Pruning\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWatering:\u003c\/strong\u003e Water regularly throughout the first growing season to encourage strong, deep root establishment. Once settled, Portuguese Laurel is notably drought-tolerant and largely self-sufficient under typical UK rainfall. During prolonged dry spells, newly planted specimens will benefit from supplementary irrigation until fully established.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Apply a balanced general-purpose fertiliser in early spring to encourage healthy, steady growth — particularly valuable in poorer or thinner soils. An annual mulch of well-rotted organic matter around the base will help conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and gradually improve soil structure and fertility over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning:\u003c\/strong\u003e For formal hedging or shaped topiary, trim \u003cstrong\u003eonce a year in late summer\u003c\/strong\u003e to maintain a clean outline, or twice if a tighter, more precise finish is preferred — with a lighter pass in late spring as well. Portuguese Laurel clips cleanly and holds its shape superbly, making it one of the best choices available for crisp formal work. Use sharp secateurs or well-set hedging shears, and aim to respect the plant's naturally elegant growth habit. When grown as a free-standing specimen shrub or small tree, very little pruning is required — simply remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches in late spring to keep the framework open and well presented.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePests \u0026amp; Disease:\u003c\/strong\u003e Portuguese Laurel is generally robust and trouble-free, with notably good resistance to the diseases that can occasionally affect other laurel species.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Grasslands Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57609082569030,"sku":"174272","price":476.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0796\/7948\/8326\/files\/26d6a1ac-35f3-4d3d-997c-481ba8cbe92a_b4a4cfb6-6f9a-437c-bab8-173ef587c4b5.jpg?v=1792154420","url":"https:\/\/www.grasslands.co.uk\/products\/big-deal-portuguese-laurel-hedging-80-100cm-root-ball-x-20","provider":"Grasslands Nursery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}