Prunus lusitanica, commonly known as Portuguese Laurel, is one of the most attractive evergreen species for creating formal pleached screens. Its dense, glossy green foliage, elegant reddish stems and excellent response to regular pruning make it an outstanding choice for contemporary gardens, boundary screening and architectural landscapes.
Pleached Portuguese Laurel trees are specially trained to develop a rectangular evergreen canopy above a clear stem. When planted in a row, these raised crowns can gradually form a continuous screen, helping to reduce overlooking from neighbouring properties while retaining valuable space beneath the foliage.
Unlike deciduous pleached trees, which lose their leaves during winter, Prunus lusitanica retains its foliage throughout the year, providing privacy, structure and an attractive green backdrop during every season.
Its relatively small, glossy leaves create a refined appearance, while the contrasting reddish leaf stalks and young stems provide additional ornamental interest.
During late spring and early summer, Portuguese Laurel can produce delicate racemes of small white flowers, followed by dark red to black fruits. Regular clipping may reduce flowering and fruit production.
Pleached Portuguese Laurel is particularly effective above fences and walls, alongside terraces, around outdoor living spaces and in formal garden designs.
Key Features of Pleached Prunus lusitanica
Dense evergreen foliage providing year-round screening
Formal rectangular pleached canopy
Excellent for reducing overlooking from neighbouring windows
Ideal for elevated screening above fences and boundary walls
Attractive glossy dark green leaves
Distinctive reddish stems and leaf stalks
Strong architectural appearance
Suitable for contemporary and traditional gardens
Effective when planted in continuous rows
Responds well to regular pruning
Attractive white flowers when allowed to develop
Provides structure and interest throughout the year
Suitable for sheltered and moderately exposed gardens
Available in different frame dimensions and clear-stem heights, subject to nursery stock
Prunus lusitanica – Pleached Tree Specification
Botanical name: Prunus lusitanica
Common name: Pleached Portuguese Laurel / Portuguese Laurel
Family: Rosaceae
Tree type: Evergreen broadleaf tree trained into a pleached form
Supplied form: Clear-stem specimen with a rectangular trained crown supported by a nursery framework.
Typical clear-stem height: Approximately 1.8–2.2m, depending on the nursery specification.
Typical pleached frame width: Approximately 1.2–1.8m, depending on the selected product option.
Typical pleached frame height: Approximately 1.0–1.5m, depending on the selected product option.
Typical overall height when supplied: Approximately 2.8–3.7m, depending on clear-stem height and frame dimensions.
Natural mature height: Untrained Portuguese Laurel can eventually develop into a substantial shrub or small tree, approximately 6–12m tall in favourable conditions.
Maintained pleached dimensions: Determined by the original framework, available space and ongoing pruning.
Growth rate: Moderate under favourable conditions.
Foliage: Evergreen, glossy dark green, with relatively small oval leaves.
Crown shape: Formal rectangular pleached canopy with dense branching.
Flowers: Small white flowers arranged in upright racemes during late spring or early summer.
Fruit: Small fruits that mature from reddish tones to dark purple or black. Regular clipping can reduce fruit production.
Stems: Attractive reddish young stems and leaf stalks.
Position: Full sun or partial shade.
Soil: Adaptable to a range of reasonably fertile soils, including clay, loam, chalky and sandy soils where drainage is adequate.
Soil moisture: Prefers moist but well-drained ground. Established specimens tolerate some dry periods.
Exposure: Best in sheltered or moderately exposed positions. The elevated pleached canopy creates additional wind resistance.
Hardiness: Generally hardy across much of the UK, although young specimens and exposed pleached crowns may require additional protection in severe winter conditions.
Native status: Non-UK native.
Wildlife value: Flowers can provide nectar and pollen for insects, while dense evergreen foliage offers shelter and potential nesting opportunities for birds.
Maintenance: Regular pruning and inspection of the trained framework are required to retain the formal rectangular shape.
Root system: Develops a substantial root system with maturity. Allow appropriate space from buildings, underground services and hard landscaping.
Suitable uses: Evergreen privacy screening, elevated boundary screening, overlooking windows, contemporary gardens, formal gardens, terraces, outdoor living areas and architectural planting.
Why Choose Pleached Portuguese Laurel?
Year-Round Evergreen Privacy
The principal advantage of Pleached Portuguese Laurel is its ability to provide elevated screening throughout the year.
Unlike deciduous pleached trees, which lose their foliage during winter, Portuguese Laurel retains its glossy evergreen leaves.
This makes it particularly useful for reducing overlooking from neighbouring windows, screening upper-floor views and providing privacy around terraces, seating areas and outdoor living spaces.
The effectiveness of the screen will depend on the density of the supplied crown, frame dimensions and spacing between individual trees.
Ideal for Screening Above Fences and Walls
Pleached trees offer an attractive solution where additional privacy is required above an existing boundary.
Their clear stems allow the trained canopy to sit above a fence or wall, creating a raised green screen without occupying the entire height of the boundary.
This is particularly useful for gardens overlooked by neighbouring houses or upper-floor windows.
Careful consideration should be given to the position of the screen, the height of neighbouring windows and the required maintained canopy dimensions.
An Elegant Architectural Feature
The rectangular trained crown of Pleached Portuguese Laurel creates a strong geometric feature within the garden.
Its relatively small leaves and dense branching give it a refined appearance, making it particularly effective in contemporary garden design.
Rows of pleached trees can be used to frame terraces, define garden rooms, create formal boundaries or provide an attractive backdrop to outdoor living spaces.
A Refined Alternative to Pleached Holm Oak
Pleached Portuguese Laurel offers an attractive alternative to Pleached Holm Oak.
While both provide evergreen screening, Portuguese Laurel generally has smaller, glossier foliage and distinctive reddish stems.
Its fine-textured appearance makes it particularly suitable for formal and contemporary planting schemes where a neat, regularly maintained screen is desired.
Seasonal Flowers and Wildlife Interest
When allowed to flower, Portuguese Laurel produces attractive clusters of small white flowers during late spring and early summer.
These can provide a useful resource for visiting pollinating insects.
The dense evergreen foliage also offers shelter and potential nesting opportunities for birds throughout the year.
Regular clipping may reduce the number of flowers and fruits produced.
Planting and Establishment
Prunus lusitanica performs best in a sunny or partially shaded position with reasonably fertile, well-drained soil.
Pleached specimens should be positioned carefully to ensure consistent alignment, spacing and finished height.
The planting area should be prepared appropriately, ensuring that the root flare remains at the correct finished soil level.
Newly planted trees require regular watering during establishment, particularly during dry or windy periods.
Because the elevated pleached canopy creates additional wind resistance, suitable staking, underground anchoring or a professionally designed support system may be necessary.
A suitable mulch layer can help conserve moisture and reduce competition from surrounding vegetation.
For larger pleached specimens, professional planting is strongly recommended.
Maintaining Pleached Portuguese Laurel Trees
Regular maintenance is essential to preserve the formal rectangular appearance of pleached trees.
New growth should be managed through appropriate pruning, normally once or twice during the growing season depending on the desired finish and rate of growth.
Pruning should be undertaken carefully to maintain the shape of the trained crown without unnecessarily damaging the foliage.
Frameworks, ties and supports should be inspected regularly to prevent damage as the tree develops.
The original nursery framework may eventually be removed once the trained branch structure is sufficiently established, although this should be assessed individually.
With appropriate care, Pleached Portuguese Laurel can develop into an attractive, established evergreen screen that becomes increasingly effective over time.
Important Plant Safety Information
Portuguese Laurel belongs to the Prunus genus.
Its leaves, stems and seeds contain compounds that can release cyanide when plant material is chewed or damaged.
The foliage and fruits should not be eaten by people, pets or grazing animals.
Particular care should be taken when considering planting in areas accessible to horses, livestock or domestic animals that may chew vegetation.
Pruned material should be collected and disposed of appropriately rather than being left where animals can consume it.
Specimen Tree Delivery and Professional Planting
Landscaping Emporium, brought to you by Kirman Design, offers professional pleached tree supply and planting throughout selected areas of North West England.
We provide professional tree planting in the following postcode areas:
BB, BL, CH1–CH5, CW8, CW9, FY, L, LA1–LA6, M, OL, PR, SK1–SK12, WA and WN.
Please do not select professional planting at checkout if your property is outside these postcode areas without contacting us first.
If your property is outside our normal installation area, please contact us. We may still be able to arrange planting depending on your location, tree size and site access.
Before ordering, please consider delivery access, gate and passage widths, steps, slopes, overhead restrictions and the available planting space.
Pleached Portuguese Laurel trees may be available in different clear-stem heights, frame dimensions, overall sizes and root formats depending on nursery stock.
The precise dimensions, crown density and branching structure will vary between individual trees.
Contact Landscaping Emporium
Landscaping Emporium – brought to you by Kirman Design
Unit 9, Bridgewater Business Park
Gladstone Street
Blackburn
BB1 3DL
Telephone: 01942 604976
Email: hello@landscapingemporium.co.uk
Website: www.landscapingemporium.co.uk
Professional tree supply and planting across North West England.
Prunus lusitanica, commonly known as Portuguese Laurel, is one of the most attractive evergreen species for creating formal pleached screens. Its dense, glossy green foliage, elegant reddish stems and excellent response to regular pruning make it an outstanding choice for contemporary gardens, boundary screening and architectural landscapes.
Pleached Portuguese Laurel trees are specially trained to develop a rectangular evergreen canopy above a clear stem. When planted in a row, these raised crowns can gradually form a continuous screen, helping to reduce overlooking from neighbouring properties while retaining valuable space beneath the foliage.
Unlike deciduous pleached trees, which lose their leaves during winter, Prunus lusitanica retains its foliage throughout the year, providing privacy, structure and an attractive green backdrop during every season.
Its relatively small, glossy leaves create a refined appearance, while the contrasting reddish leaf stalks and young stems provide additional ornamental interest.
During late spring and early summer, Portuguese Laurel can produce delicate racemes of small white flowers, followed by dark red to black fruits. Regular clipping may reduce flowering and fruit production.
Pleached Portuguese Laurel is particularly effective above fences and walls, alongside terraces, around outdoor living spaces and in formal garden designs.
Key Features of Pleached Prunus lusitanica
Dense evergreen foliage providing year-round screening
Formal rectangular pleached canopy
Excellent for reducing overlooking from neighbouring windows
Ideal for elevated screening above fences and boundary walls
Attractive glossy dark green leaves
Distinctive reddish stems and leaf stalks
Strong architectural appearance
Suitable for contemporary and traditional gardens
Effective when planted in continuous rows
Responds well to regular pruning
Attractive white flowers when allowed to develop
Provides structure and interest throughout the year
Suitable for sheltered and moderately exposed gardens
Available in different frame dimensions and clear-stem heights, subject to nursery stock
Prunus lusitanica – Pleached Tree Specification
Botanical name: Prunus lusitanica
Common name: Pleached Portuguese Laurel / Portuguese Laurel
Family: Rosaceae
Tree type: Evergreen broadleaf tree trained into a pleached form
Supplied form: Clear-stem specimen with a rectangular trained crown supported by a nursery framework.
Typical clear-stem height: Approximately 1.8–2.2m, depending on the nursery specification.
Typical pleached frame width: Approximately 1.2–1.8m, depending on the selected product option.
Typical pleached frame height: Approximately 1.0–1.5m, depending on the selected product option.
Typical overall height when supplied: Approximately 2.8–3.7m, depending on clear-stem height and frame dimensions.
Natural mature height: Untrained Portuguese Laurel can eventually develop into a substantial shrub or small tree, approximately 6–12m tall in favourable conditions.
Maintained pleached dimensions: Determined by the original framework, available space and ongoing pruning.
Growth rate: Moderate under favourable conditions.
Foliage: Evergreen, glossy dark green, with relatively small oval leaves.
Crown shape: Formal rectangular pleached canopy with dense branching.
Flowers: Small white flowers arranged in upright racemes during late spring or early summer.
Fruit: Small fruits that mature from reddish tones to dark purple or black. Regular clipping can reduce fruit production.
Stems: Attractive reddish young stems and leaf stalks.
Position: Full sun or partial shade.
Soil: Adaptable to a range of reasonably fertile soils, including clay, loam, chalky and sandy soils where drainage is adequate.
Soil moisture: Prefers moist but well-drained ground. Established specimens tolerate some dry periods.
Exposure: Best in sheltered or moderately exposed positions. The elevated pleached canopy creates additional wind resistance.
Hardiness: Generally hardy across much of the UK, although young specimens and exposed pleached crowns may require additional protection in severe winter conditions.
Native status: Non-UK native.
Wildlife value: Flowers can provide nectar and pollen for insects, while dense evergreen foliage offers shelter and potential nesting opportunities for birds.
Maintenance: Regular pruning and inspection of the trained framework are required to retain the formal rectangular shape.
Root system: Develops a substantial root system with maturity. Allow appropriate space from buildings, underground services and hard landscaping.
Suitable uses: Evergreen privacy screening, elevated boundary screening, overlooking windows, contemporary gardens, formal gardens, terraces, outdoor living areas and architectural planting.
Why Choose Pleached Portuguese Laurel?
Year-Round Evergreen Privacy
The principal advantage of Pleached Portuguese Laurel is its ability to provide elevated screening throughout the year.
Unlike deciduous pleached trees, which lose their foliage during winter, Portuguese Laurel retains its glossy evergreen leaves.
This makes it particularly useful for reducing overlooking from neighbouring windows, screening upper-floor views and providing privacy around terraces, seating areas and outdoor living spaces.
The effectiveness of the screen will depend on the density of the supplied crown, frame dimensions and spacing between individual trees.
Ideal for Screening Above Fences and Walls
Pleached trees offer an attractive solution where additional privacy is required above an existing boundary.
Their clear stems allow the trained canopy to sit above a fence or wall, creating a raised green screen without occupying the entire height of the boundary.
This is particularly useful for gardens overlooked by neighbouring houses or upper-floor windows.
Careful consideration should be given to the position of the screen, the height of neighbouring windows and the required maintained canopy dimensions.
An Elegant Architectural Feature
The rectangular trained crown of Pleached Portuguese Laurel creates a strong geometric feature within the garden.
Its relatively small leaves and dense branching give it a refined appearance, making it particularly effective in contemporary garden design.
Rows of pleached trees can be used to frame terraces, define garden rooms, create formal boundaries or provide an attractive backdrop to outdoor living spaces.
A Refined Alternative to Pleached Holm Oak
Pleached Portuguese Laurel offers an attractive alternative to Pleached Holm Oak.
While both provide evergreen screening, Portuguese Laurel generally has smaller, glossier foliage and distinctive reddish stems.
Its fine-textured appearance makes it particularly suitable for formal and contemporary planting schemes where a neat, regularly maintained screen is desired.
Seasonal Flowers and Wildlife Interest
When allowed to flower, Portuguese Laurel produces attractive clusters of small white flowers during late spring and early summer.
These can provide a useful resource for visiting pollinating insects.
The dense evergreen foliage also offers shelter and potential nesting opportunities for birds throughout the year.
Regular clipping may reduce the number of flowers and fruits produced.
Planting and Establishment
Prunus lusitanica performs best in a sunny or partially shaded position with reasonably fertile, well-drained soil.
Pleached specimens should be positioned carefully to ensure consistent alignment, spacing and finished height.
The planting area should be prepared appropriately, ensuring that the root flare remains at the correct finished soil level.
Newly planted trees require regular watering during establishment, particularly during dry or windy periods.
Because the elevated pleached canopy creates additional wind resistance, suitable staking, underground anchoring or a professionally designed support system may be necessary.
A suitable mulch layer can help conserve moisture and reduce competition from surrounding vegetation.
For larger pleached specimens, professional planting is strongly recommended.
Maintaining Pleached Portuguese Laurel Trees
Regular maintenance is essential to preserve the formal rectangular appearance of pleached trees.
New growth should be managed through appropriate pruning, normally once or twice during the growing season depending on the desired finish and rate of growth.
Pruning should be undertaken carefully to maintain the shape of the trained crown without unnecessarily damaging the foliage.
Frameworks, ties and supports should be inspected regularly to prevent damage as the tree develops.
The original nursery framework may eventually be removed once the trained branch structure is sufficiently established, although this should be assessed individually.
With appropriate care, Pleached Portuguese Laurel can develop into an attractive, established evergreen screen that becomes increasingly effective over time.
Important Plant Safety Information
Portuguese Laurel belongs to the Prunus genus.
Its leaves, stems and seeds contain compounds that can release cyanide when plant material is chewed or damaged.
The foliage and fruits should not be eaten by people, pets or grazing animals.
Particular care should be taken when considering planting in areas accessible to horses, livestock or domestic animals that may chew vegetation.
Pruned material should be collected and disposed of appropriately rather than being left where animals can consume it.
Specimen Tree Delivery and Professional Planting
Landscaping Emporium, brought to you by Kirman Design, offers professional pleached tree supply and planting throughout selected areas of North West England.
We provide professional tree planting in the following postcode areas:
BB, BL, CH1–CH5, CW8, CW9, FY, L, LA1–LA6, M, OL, PR, SK1–SK12, WA and WN.
Please do not select professional planting at checkout if your property is outside these postcode areas without contacting us first.
If your property is outside our normal installation area, please contact us. We may still be able to arrange planting depending on your location, tree size and site access.
Before ordering, please consider delivery access, gate and passage widths, steps, slopes, overhead restrictions and the available planting space.
Pleached Portuguese Laurel trees may be available in different clear-stem heights, frame dimensions, overall sizes and root formats depending on nursery stock.
The precise dimensions, crown density and branching structure will vary between individual trees.
Contact Landscaping Emporium
Landscaping Emporium – brought to you by Kirman Design
Unit 9, Bridgewater Business Park
Gladstone Street
Blackburn
BB1 3DL
Telephone: 01942 604976
Email: hello@landscapingemporium.co.uk
Website: www.landscapingemporium.co.uk
Professional tree supply and planting across North West England.
Image 1 of 14
Image 2 of 14
Image 3 of 14
Image 4 of 14
Image 5 of 14
Image 6 of 14
Image 7 of 14
Image 8 of 14
Image 9 of 14
Image 10 of 14
Image 11 of 14
Image 12 of 14
Image 13 of 14
Image 14 of 14