How tall do Prunus lusitanica grow?
Portuguese laurels (prunus lusitanica) have the potential to reach heights of 3 to 7. However, when used as a hedge or for ornamental purposes, they are typically pruned and maintained at a smaller size. Portuguese laurel hedging has an average to fast growth rate and will achieve approximately 40-60cm a year. The ideal height for a portuguese laurel hedge is anything up to 5m.What are the disadvantages of Portuguese Laurel? The slow growth rate of Portuguese Laurel may be a disadvantage as it takes time to establish a mature hedge. Additionally, regularly pruning Laurel is necessary to maintain its shape and density.Laurel can be trimmed or pruned to the height you require and, if it grows too big, it can be cut back as hard as you like – right back to the stump if necessary – and it will re-grow quickly into a new hedge.As long as your hedge is kept at a fair height, there shouldn’t be an issue with laurel roots. However, we would always recommend against planting a laurel hedge right up to an external wall of a house.
What is the English name for Prunus lusitanica?
Prunus lusitanica, the Portuguese laurel cherry or Portugal laurel, is a species of flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae, native to the Iberian Peninsula, Morocco, the Macaronesian archipelagos, and the French Basque Country. Mountain laurel is UNSAFE for people to take by mouth. It can cause many side effects such as pain, cold sweats, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, numbness, dizziness, headache, fever, loss of vision, muscle weakness, serious heart and lung problems, death, and other severe side effects.The glycosides present in Laurel means it releases cyanide if its leaves are crushed, broken, or cut, but this shouldn’t be an issue for humans in small doses and outdoor areas. The cyanide toxins can be absorbed through the skin via physical contact, but are also airborne and can be inhaled.Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is generally considered a tough evergreen but its leaves can be affected by diseases such as powdery mildew, leaf spot fungi and bacterial shothole.
What are common Prunus lusitanica problems?
Inadequate watering is the main problem with Prunus Lusitanica Portuguese Laurel. Lack of foliage shine, browning, drooping or yellowing all indicate that the soil is too dry and that you need to water the plants more. In general, during summer, weekly watering accompanied by feeding will keep your plants in top form. Leaves may turn yellow, brown, and fall off as branch tips die back. Cherry laurel does not tolerate compacted clay soil that drains poorly. In those conditions, excess soil moisture reduces oxygen levels. This can stress or kill roots, resulting in a reduced root system that is unable to function well.Drought – Yellowing leaves are classic symptoms of drought if there is no sign of disease or distress. Just as over-watering can cause damage to a bay laurel so can under-watering and it only takes a few days of no water to cause leaf discolouration.The leaves of the cherry laurel do not fall off in winter, as is the case with deciduous trees, but nevertheless, brown and withered leaves tend to appear on the shrub. Most often, these are diseased parts of the plant or those damaged by frost or pruning.
What are the benefits of Prunus lusitanica?
There are a number of immediate benefits to choosing Prunus lusitanica for your next hedge: Quite drought tolerant and requires little or no irrigation. Resistant to deer and many pests including the shot hole fungus that affects Prunus laurocerasus cherry laurels. Attractive evergreen glossy leaves and red stems. How to care for Prunus lusitanica: When planting incorporate lots of well-rotted garden compost in the planting hole and stake firmly. Prune in either spring or summer. Mature plants can tolerate hard pruning in spring, cutting back to the old wood.