Portugal Laurel

Where will it grow?

Portuguese Laurel is hardy and an established hedge will survive temperatures of -23^oC. It will grow in windy sites in full sun or fairly heavy shade.

What type of soil does a Portuguese Laurel hedge need?

It will grow in any soil as long as it is free-draining, i.e. doesn’t get water-logged for long periods. It will even grow on shallow chalky soils where Cherry Laurel will struggle to grow.

When can I plant?

You can plant our pot-grown Portugal Laurel at any time of year.  If you plant between March and October, you must be prepared to keep them watered until the end of October. If you plant during the winter months, November to February, you may not need to water your plants as they will have a chance to get some roots established before the soil dries out in the spring. However, it may still be worth keeping an eye on them to make sure they are getting enough water in the first year. Also, if you water your plants during the growing season, you are more likely to get the most growth from them.

Why Grow Portugal Laurel?

• It is evergreen
• Neat and tidy habit of growth
• Easy to maintain
• Can be kept at any size including small 1m (3ft) and large 5m (15ft)
• Hardy (survives down to −23°C)
• Will grow in most soils
• Has attractive red stems and dark green leaves
• Has fragrant white flowers
• Can be used as topiary or shaped to any height
• Can be grown in containers or pots

How often would I need to trim a Portuguese Laurel hedge?

A Portugal Laurel hedge, just like most hedges, will need to be trimmed once a year.  Late spring/early summer is a good time to trim your hedge although it can be done at most times of year.

How tall will a Portugal Laurel grow?

A Portugal Laurel hedge can be kept to any size, even as a small hedge of 1m (3ft) tall.  If left untrimmed, it will grow between 5 and 7 metres  (15-20ft) tall.

How fast will a Portugal Laurel hedge grow?

The growth rate of Portugal Laurel is up to 50cm (20 inches) per year, so not quite as quick as Cherry Laurel or Leylandii but it will still form a hedge reasonably quickly. We also usually stock large sizes of Portugal Laurel that can form an “instant hedge”.