P. laurocerasus is a vigorous, large, spreading evergreen shrub with  glossy dark green leaves to 15cm in length. Small white flowers in erect racemes to 12cm in length are followed by cherry-like glossy red fruits soon turning black.

The commonly planted cultivar 'Otto Luyken' has narrower leaves and flowers again in autumn.

Prunus lusitanica, other large -leaved evergreen species like Rhododendrons

Evergreen, flowers in long racemes; petioles and 1st year stems green, leaves crenate/slightly serrate

Photograph of shoot with leaves

Occasionally planted and sometimes escaping from cultivation.

All year round - flowering around May.

Evergreen shrub.

Widespread in Britain as a planted shrub and occasional escape.  It may well be increasing as an established plant in the wild.

Occasional escape which may occur in woodland or hedgerow.  It may be increasing as an established plant in our area. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 38 of the 617 tetrads.