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Prunus lusitanica ‘Angustifolia’ (Portugal laurel)

At Heijnen Plants, we take great pride in offering the distinguished Prunus lusitanica 'Angustifolia', also known as the Portugal laurel. This exquisite plant is revered for its deep green, glossy leaves, which provide a lush backdrop to its delicate white flowers. As a cultivar with a refined growth habit, it is ideal for creating elegant hedges that add structure and beauty to any garden. Providing a touch of Mediterranean splendor, the Portugal laurel is a choice specimen for gardeners seeking both aesthetic appeal and low-maintenance care.

Winter hardiness
Average winter hardy

Pruning
Twice a year

Growth rate
30-50 cm per year

Visual barrier
Quickly obscuring

Position
Shade, partial shade, sun

Maintenance
Low maintenance

2+ £21.25

50+ £20.15

100+ £19.65

200+ £19.10

Height at time of delivery excluding pot/clod
80-100

Planting distance per meter
3

19.10

per piece

incl. VAT, excl. shipping costs (calculated in shopping cart)

Added to shopping cart

2+ £33.10

25+ £31.45

50+ £30.65

100+ £29.80

Height at time of delivery excluding pot/clod
100-125

Planting distance per meter
2,5

29.80

per piece

incl. VAT, excl. shipping costs (calculated in shopping cart)

Added to shopping cart

2+ £46.95

25+ £44.60

50+ £43.40

100+ £42.25

Height at time of delivery excluding pot/clod
125-150

Planting distance per meter
2,5

42.25

per piece

incl. VAT, excl. shipping costs (calculated in shopping cart)

Added to shopping cart

2+ £77.85

15+ £73.95

25+ £72.00

50+ £70.05

Height at time of delivery excluding pot/clod
150-175

Planting distance per meter
2

70.05

per piece

incl. VAT, excl. shipping costs (calculated in shopping cart)

Added to shopping cart

2+ £93.65

15+ £88.95

25+ £86.60

50+ £84.30

Height at time of delivery excluding pot/clod
175-200

Planting distance per meter
2

84.30

per piece

incl. VAT, excl. shipping costs (calculated in shopping cart)

Added to shopping cart

Prunus lusitanica ‘Angustifolia’ (Portugal laurel)

The Prunus lusitanica 'Angustifolia', commonly referred to as the Portugal laurel, is a robust evergreen that serves as an elegant choice for hedging. With its lustrous green foliage throughout the year, it offers a consistently verdant backdrop for gardens and outdoor spaces.

This variety of Portugal laurel blooms with clusters of fragrant white flowers in the late spring, transitioning to deep purple fruits by autumn. The visual density of Prunus lusitanica 'Angustifolia' provides a quickly obscuring hedge, making it an ideal selection for those seeking privacy and a touch of sophistication in their landscaping.

Key Features

The Prunus genus is known for its resilience and the 'Angustifolia' variety is no exception. It can thrive in a range of conditions, from full sun to shade, and adapts well to all well-drained soil types.
The Portugal laurel exhibits a moderate growth rate of 30 to 50 centimeters per year, allowing it to establish itself as a hedge or block hedge with ease.
With winter hardiness down to -12.3°C, corresponding to USDA zone 7b, Prunus lusitanica 'Angustifolia' stands firm against the cold, maintaining its greenery even in the chill of winter.
A twice yearly pruning is all that's needed to maintain the desired shape and fullness, making it a low-maintenance option for any gardener.

Tips

When planting Prunus lusitanica 'Angustifolia', it is best to space the plants appropriately to allow each to develop fully and provide the quick visual density desired for a hedge.
To encourage healthy growth, water the Portugal laurel regularly, especially during dry periods, since it is not drought resistant.
Although the 'Angustifolia' is not demanding when it comes to pruning, it is advisable to prune once after the flowering period and once in the late summer to maintain a neat appearance and promote healthy foliage.
Propagation can be easily achieved with softwood cuttings in the spring or early summer, enabling gardeners to expand their hedges or share with fellow enthusiasts.

Ideal placement of a Portuguese laurel

The Portuguese laurel hedge flourishes across a spectrum of lighting conditions, from full sun to shaded areas, demonstrating its adaptability. It is important to note that while it can tolerate shade, optimal growth and flowering are achieved with greater sun exposure.

This plant's versatility extends to soil preferences, as it prospers in a variety of well-drained substrates. To ensure the health and vitality of the laurel, it is advisable to provide it with a location that offers both the sunlight it needs for robust growth and a soil environment that supports its root development.

Planting a Portuguese laurel

To plant Prunus lusitanica 'Angustifolia', begin by selecting a suitable location that can range from full sun to partial shade. The soil should be well-draining to accommodate the plant's preferences. Dig a hole twice as wide and the same depth as the root ball to allow for proper expansion and growth. Gently place the root ball in the hole, ensuring the top remains level with the surrounding soil. Backfill the hole with the excavated soil, firming it down to eliminate air pockets. Provide ample water to settle the soil around the root ball and ensure consistent soil moisture, especially during dry periods, to support the establishment of this evergreen species.

Pruning a Portuguese laurel

Prunus lusitanica 'Angustifolia' requires minimal maintenance and is pruned mainly to preserve its aesthetic. It is ideal to prune this evergreen twice annually, removing any irregular or unwanted growth to maintain its dense, quickly obscuring habit. The best times for pruning are late spring, after the bloom, and mid-autumn, to allow recovery before the onset of winter. When shaping the hedge, make careful cuts to encourage a lush, green canopy throughout all seasons, sustaining its vibrant green foliage.

Watering a Portuguese laurel

For the Prunus lusitanica 'Angustifolia', regular watering is essential to maintain its lush green foliage and support its growth rate. It is particularly important to ensure that the root ball does not dry out. During the establishment period and in the warmer months, provide the plant with a deep watering to encourage a robust root system. Once established, Prunus 'Angustifolia' will tolerate occasional dry spells, but it is not inherently drought-resistant and will benefit from additional watering during prolonged dry periods to prevent stress.

Fertilising a Portuguese laurel

To ensure that the hedge maintains its lush green aesthetic throughout the seasons, a balanced fertilisation regimen should be implemented. Fertilise once in early spring and again in mid-summer to support the plant's health and growth. The synonymous with resilience and growth, thrives best with a general-purpose fertiliser that caters to its needs during its active growth phases.

Apply the fertiliser around the base of the plant, taking care not to contact the foliage directly. A slow-release formula is advantageous, providing a steady supply of nutrients, which is particularly beneficial during the rapid spring growth period. This approach encourages a robust and vibrant hedge, with dense foliage and the capacity to withstand seasonal fluctuations.

The characteristics of a Portuguese laurel

An often overlooked trait of Prunus lusitanica 'Angustifolia' is its adaptability to a range of soil types, provided they are well-drained. Its dense, dark green foliage provides excellent privacy, making it ideal for hedging. Furthermore, this variety appreciates mulching, which helps to retain soil moisture and regulate temperature. Its ability to withstand pruning into formal shapes allows for creative garden design, offering structure and elegance to any landscape.

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