Portuguese Laurel Hedge
Prunus lusitanica
Portuguese Laurel hedge plants (Prunus lusitanica) create a dense evergreen boundary with dark green leaves and attractive red young stems. Their smaller leaves give a finer appearance than Cherry Laurel, making them a good choice for neatly clipped garden boundaries, driveways and year-round privacy.
Choose your preferred size and root type below, from young plants to grow on to larger plants and instant hedging for a more established screen. Check each option for price, availability and recommended coverage.
- Evergreen screening all year
- Clips into a neat formal hedge
- Dark green leaves and red young stems
- Choice of sizes and root types
Key product facts
Portuguese Laurel Hedge Root Types
Choose from our range of Portuguese Laurel Hedge sizes and root types below.
Bare Root
Availability
- In Season
- Pre Order
- Out Of Season
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Choose your height
Pick a height to see the relevant single-plant and bulk-buy options.
30-40cm
- Bare RootSingle plants£4.50
£4.50 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 50Save 2%Original price was: £225.00.£219.38Current price is: £219.38.
£4.39 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 100Save 5%Original price was: £450.00.£427.50Current price is: £427.50.
£4.28 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 250Save 10%Original price was: £1,125.00.£1,012.50Current price is: £1,012.50.
£4.05 per plant
Pot Grown
Availability
- In Season
- Pre Order
- Out Of Season
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Choose your height
Pick a height to see the relevant single-plant and bulk-buy options.
30-40cm
- Pot GrownSingle plants£8.95
£8.95 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 50Save 5%Original price was: £447.50.£425.00Current price is: £425.00.
£8.50 per plant
Sold out
40-60cm
- Pot GrownSingle plants£14.95
£14.95 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 50Save 5%Original price was: £747.50.£710.00Current price is: £710.00.
£14.20 per plant
Sold out
60-80cm
- Pot GrownSingle plants£19.95
£19.95 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 40Save 5%Original price was: £798.00.£758.00Current price is: £758.00.
£18.95 per plant
Sold out
80-100cm
- Pot GrownSingle plants£29.95
£29.95 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 40Save 5%Original price was: £1,198.00.£1,138.00Current price is: £1,138.00.
£28.45 per plant
100-125cm
- Pot GrownSingle plants£49.95
£49.95 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 30Save 5%Original price was: £1,498.50.£1,423.00Current price is: £1,423.00.
£47.43 per plant
Sold out
125-150cm
- Pot GrownSingle plants£69.95
£69.95 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 30Save 5%Original price was: £2,098.50.£1,993.00Current price is: £1,993.00.
£66.43 per plant
Sold out
150-175cm
- Pot GrownSingle plants£79.95
£79.95 per plant
175-200cm
- Pot GrownSingle plants£129.95
£129.95 per plant
Instant Hedging
Availability
- In Season
- Pre Order
- Out Of Season
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Choose your height
Pick a height to see the relevant single-plant and bulk-buy options.
60-80cm
- Instant HedgingPer metre£119.95
£119.95 per metre
80-100cm
- Instant HedgingPer metre£175.95
£175.95 per metre
160-180cm
- Instant HedgingPer metre£319.95
£319.95 per metre
Root Balled
Availability
- In Season
- Pre Order
- Out Of Season
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Choose your height
Pick a height to see the relevant single-plant and bulk-buy options.
60-80cm
- Root BalledSingle plants£25.95
£25.95 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 26Save 4%Original price was: £674.70.£640.97Current price is: £640.97.
£24.65 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 52Save 9%Original price was: £1,349.40.£1,214.46Current price is: £1,214.46.
£23.36 per plant
80-100cm
- Root BalledSingle plants£34.95
£34.95 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 22Save 4%Original price was: £768.90.£730.46Current price is: £730.46.
£33.20 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 44Save 10%Original price was: £1,537.80.£1,384.02Current price is: £1,384.02.
£31.46 per plant
100-125cm
- Root BalledSingle plants£42.95
£42.95 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 18Save 4%Original price was: £773.10.£734.45Current price is: £734.45.
£40.80 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 36Save 10%Original price was: £1,546.20.£1,391.58Current price is: £1,391.58.
£38.66 per plant
125-150cm
- Root BalledSingle plants£62.95
£62.95 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 14Save 4%Original price was: £881.30.£837.24Current price is: £837.24.
£59.80 per plant
150-175cm
- Root BalledSingle plants£79.95
£79.95 per plant
- Bulk savingPack of 10Save 4%Original price was: £799.50.£759.53Current price is: £759.53.
£75.95 per plant
175-200cm
- Root BalledSingle plants£99.95
£99.95 per plant
200-225cm
- Root BalledSingle plants£124.95
£124.95 per plant
225-250cm
- Root BalledSingle plants£200.00
£200.00 per plant
Sold out
250-275cm
- Root BalledSingle plants£320.00
£320.00 per plant
Choosing your Portuguese Laurel hedge
The right plants depend on your budget, planting date and how much privacy you need from the start. Compare the supplied height, root type and recommended coverage of each option to work out the cost of your whole hedge.
Which root type should you choose?
- Pot grown: a flexible option when you want to plant outside the dormant season. Plants are supplied in containers and can be planted throughout the year when the ground is workable, with careful watering during dry weather.
- Bare root: an economical starting point for a new hedge if you can plant during the dormant season and allow young plants time to fill out. Supplied without pots or soil around the roots.
- Root balled: field-grown plants lifted with soil around their roots. A useful option when you want larger plants for seasonal planting. Check the size and estimated delivery shown for your chosen option.
- Instant hedging: plants grown together to form an established hedge section, giving more continuous coverage from planting. Check the supplied height and the length covered by each unit.
Choosing a size for privacy
Smaller plants cost less initially and suit projects where you have time for the hedge to develop. For privacy sooner, compare taller plants and instant hedging, paying attention to bushiness as well as height.
Portuguese Laurel typically makes around 20-40cm of growth a year once established, depending on soil, water, weather and pruning. Newly planted hedges may grow more slowly while their roots establish, so choose a starting size that suits your screening needs.
Portuguese Laurel or Cherry Laurel?
Choose Portuguese Laurel if you prefer smaller leaves, reddish young stems and a fine, formal finish. Cherry Laurel has larger leaves and generally faster growth, making it worth considering when rapid coverage is your main priority.
See our Portuguese Laurel vs Cherry Laurel comparison for help choosing between them.
Help with your hedge
For planting, watering and trimming advice, read our Laurel hedging care guide. You can also check our delivery information before ordering.
Planning a long boundary or a landscaping project? Contact our nursery team with your hedge length, preferred height and planting date for help choosing your plants.
Choosing the right hedge
Is Portuguese Laurel right for you?
A great choice if you want:
- Evergreen privacy throughout the year
- A formal garden boundary that responds well to clipping
- Smaller leaves and attractive red young stems
- A hedge for sun or partial shade in well-drained soil
Consider another hedge if:
- Your soil stays waterlogged for long periods
- You prefer the faster growth and larger leaves of Cherry Laurel
- You need a hedge that stays compact without regular trimming
- You need foliage that is safe for pets or livestock to eat
What our grower says about Portuguese Laurel
When choosing Portuguese Laurel for privacy, I would look at the bushiness of the plants as well as their height. Good branching lower down helps you build a leafy screen from the base. Work out the quantity using the recommendation for your chosen size, and leave enough space to trim both sides of the finished hedge. If your budget means starting with smaller plants, give them time to fill out. Preparing the ground well and keeping the roots watered while they establish will help you get the best from them.
Buying help
Buying FAQs
How many Portuguese Laurel plants do I need?
Measure your hedge length in metres and use the plants-per-metre recommendation for your chosen size and root type. For example, a 10-metre hedge at 2 plants per metre needs 20 plants. Recommendations vary between options. For instant hedging, use the stated coverage of each unit instead of a single-plant spacing calculation.
Should I buy single plants or a pack?
Compare the stated number of plants in each pack with the quantity your hedge needs. Then compare the total price with buying single plants of the same size and root type, including delivery. Packs can offer a saving where available, but check the coverage so you order the right number of plants.
Can I pre-order Portuguese Laurel for the planting season?
Yes, where an option is marked for pre-order. Bare-root and rootballed plants are seasonal, so check the estimated delivery shown for the option you select. Lifting and dispatch depend on suitable conditions. If you need plants for a particular project date, contact us before ordering to discuss the timing.
How much will delivery cost?
Delivery charges and free-delivery thresholds depend on the size of your plants and whether they travel by box, large box or pallet. Check the delivery information for your selected option and your location before ordering. Some postcodes have additional charges or restrictions.
Can you help with a large Portuguese Laurel order?
Yes. We supply Portuguese Laurel for private gardens, landscaping and commercial projects. Contact our nursery team with your hedge length, preferred starting height, site conditions and planting date so we can help you compare the available sizes, root types and quantities.
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Planting essentials
Give your new hedge the best possible start with the planting products we recommend for establishment and healthy growth.
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Feeding your hedging with our granular ‘Hedge Feed’ the ultimate solution for nurturing and rejuvenating your beloved hedge. Our carefully crafted long lasting granular hedge fertiliser provides the essential nutrients your hedge needs to thrive.
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Our Hedging Spiral Guards help protect your hedge from damage by rabbits.
