Prunus lusitanica is an evergreen shrub or small tree, the dark red shoots bearing deep green ovate leaves. Small, fragrant white flowers in racemes to 25cm in length, are followed by small, dark purple-black fruits.

Prunus laurocerasus, other large -leaved evergreen species like Rhododendrons

Evergreen, flowers in long racemes; petioles and 1st year stems red, leaves serrate

Widely planted for shelter in churchyards, parks and woodland.

Flowers in early summer.

Evergreen.

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

Probably under recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 9 of the 617 tetrads.