Portugal Laurel - Prunus lusitanica

Description

Prunus lusitanica is an evergreen shrub or small tree, the dark red shoots bearing deep green ovate leaves. Small, fragrant white flowers in racemes to 25cm in length, are followed by small, dark purple-black fruits.

Similar Species

Prunus laurocerasus, other large -leaved evergreen species like Rhododendrons

Identification difficulty
ID guidance

Evergreen, flowers in long racemes; petioles and 1st year stems red, leaves serrate

Recording advice
Photograph of shoot with leaves
Habitat

Widely planted for shelter in churchyards, parks and woodland.

When to see it

Flowers in early summer.

Life History

Evergreen.

UK Status

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

VC55 Status

Probably under recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 9 of the 617 tetrads.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Portugal Laurel
Species group:
Trees, Shrubs & Climbers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Rosales
Family:
Rosaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
15
First record:
08/11/2016 (Mathers, Steve)
Last record:
05/07/2021 (Bedford, Frank)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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