Excelsa Cedar
Thuja plicata 'Excelsa'
Height30 to 40 ftSpread12 to 20 ftGrowth1 to 2 ft / yrZones5 to 8
Low maintenance1 / 5
Portuguese laurel shrub in a garden · Photo: Consultaplantas, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo credits
- Portuguese laurel shrub in a garden. Photo by Consultaplantas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Portuguese laurel flower spikes. Photo by Luis Fernández García, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Portuguese laurel fruits. Photo by Sten Porse, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Portuguese laurel trunk. Photo by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Broadleaf evergreen
Portuguese Laurel
Prunus lusitanica
Dense, dark broadleaf evergreen used as a tall hedge or small tree. White flower spikes in early summer.
- Max height
- 30 ft
- Typical height
- 20 to 30 ft
- Spread
- 15 to 20 ft
- Growth per year
- 1 to 2 ft
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Light
- Sun to full shade
- Hardiness zones
- 7 to 9
- Native to
- Spain, Portugal and Morocco
MaintenanceModerate
Prune once a year after bloom to hold a hedge. Berries drop and can seed around.
See it at scale
Portuguese Laurel, up to 30 ft tall and 20 ft wide
Compare with
Similar trees
Same use, closest in size
Emerald Green Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd'
Height12 to 15 ftSpread3 to 4 ftGrowth6 to 12 in / yrZones3 to 8
Low maintenance
Green Giant Arborvitae
Thuja standishii x plicata
Height40 to 60 ftSpread12 to 18 ftGrowth2 to 3 ft / yrZones5 to 9
Low maintenance