Portuguese laurel
Prunus lusitanica
Also called Portugal laurel and Prunus 'Angustifolia'
Garden plant · ShrubsThe better laurel hedge: smaller, darker, glossier leaves than the cherry laurel, on red stalks, and it takes chalk and shade and clipping without complaint. Every part is poisonous, like all the laurels.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Every 8 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Feed
- Every 45 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a cold winter RHS H5, to -15°C
- Size
- 5 m tall · 4 m across
- Lifecycle
- Shrub
- Origin
- Portugal, Spain and Morocco
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsToxic to pets
Affects dogs, cats, horses.
PeopleHarmful if eaten
The whole plant; leaves and seed kernels most of all.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-21.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.