Prunus lusitanica|Portugal laurel - 2ltr pot

Portuguese laurel (Prunus lusitanica) is a versatile, hardy, evergreen shrub or small tree highly valued in gardens for its glossy, dark green foliage, attractive red stems, and fragrant white flowers. It is widely used for hedging, privacy screens, and topiary.

• Foliage: The leaves are slender, oval-shaped, lustrous, and dark green, contrasting beautifully with the new shoots which have a distinctive pink or maroon hue. It is evergreen, providing year-round interest and screening.
• Flowers: In late spring to early summer, the plant produces abundant, small, creamy-white, fragrant flowers on long, hanging clusters called racemes. These attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.
• Fruit: The flowers are followed by small, cherry-like fruits (drupes) that turn from red to dark purple or black when ripe in the autumn. These berries are a food source for birds, but are inedible and slightly toxic to humans if consumed in large quantities.
• Size & Growth Rate: It has a moderate to fast growth rate, typically 30-60cm per year. If left unpruned, it can grow into a large shrub or small tree, reaching an ultimate height of 4-12 metres and spread of 3-8 metres.
• Hardiness: The plant is very hardy, tolerating temperatures down to -20°C (RHS H6)