Prunus lusitanica         Rosaceae

Portuguese Cherry Laurel, Portuguese Laurel         PROO-nus lu-si-TAN-i-ka

• Evergreen broadleaf shrub, 10-20 ft (3-6 m), or 50 ft (15 m) tree, dense branching, young branches reddish.  Leaves alternate, simple, 12 cm long × 5 cm wide, glossy dark green, toothed, margin often undulating; petiole 1.5-2.5 cm long, frequently reddish.  Flowers white, fragrant 8-12 mm diam., on 15-25 cm racemes.  Fruit dark purple-black, 8 mm long.
• Sun to part shade.  Accepts heat, sun and wind better than P. laurocerasus, needs little water once established  Makes a dense hedge.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 6 (Hardier than P. laurocerasus).         Native of Spain and Portugal.
• lusitanica: of Portugal
• Oregon State Univ. campus: east of Ag. & Life Sci. along walkway to Women's Building.