Prunus lusitanica Variegata - Portuguese Laurel

Prunus lusitanica Variegata, also known as the Portuguese laurel, forms a large bush or small evergreen tree with a dense and conical habit. Attractive for its beautiful variegated foliage, of a shiny dark green, more or less edged with cream-white. It also offers the spectacle, at the end of spring, of clusters of white flowers, elongated and frothy, the perfume of which excites pollinating insects. These are followed by red then black fruits. This variety is ideal in well-drained soil, moist to dry, even alkaline, to be installed in an informal or pruned hedge, or formed into topiary. Less hardy than its cousin the palm or cherry laurel, it is also resistant to drought and much more ornamental.                                                               

The Portuguese Laurel is a bush belonging to the Rosaceae family. It is native to Spain and Portugal but naturalised elsewhere in southern Europe. The 'Variegata' cultivar only differs in the colour of its variegated foliage. Able to reach 6-8 metres (20 to 26 feet) in height, it has slow growth, a bushy habit, and red branches. Its evergreen leaves, ovate, dentate, 6 to 12 cm (2.4 to 4.7 in) long, are shiny dark green bordered with cream-white. In June it produces white flowers, cup-shaped, 1.5 cm (0.6 in) in diameter, fragrant and melliferous, gathered in narrow, pendulous clusters, 12 to 15cm (4.5 to 6 in) long. The fruits are made up of small ovate berries, 8mm (0.3 in), red turning to dark purple then black, very toxic if ingested.

The Portuguese Laurel requires deep and loose soil, particularly in warm regions. It is often used in an evergreen hedge, pruned or not, in association with Photinia serratifolia, Eleagnus ebbingei, Laurustinus, Cotoneaster lacteus and Mexican orange. It can also be planted alone and formed into topiary.

Advice: Do not prune at the beginning of the season in order to fully enjoy the flowering.