Portuguese Laurel

It is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing to 3-15 m tall. The bark is blackish-brown, The leaves are alternate, oval, 7–12 cm long and 3–5 cm broad, with an acute apex and a dentate margin, glossy dark green above, lighter below.

They superficially resemble those of the Bay laurel. The flowers are small (10-15 mm diameter) with five small white petals; they are produced on erect or spreading spikes 15–25 cm long in late spring. The fruit is a small cherry-like drupe 8–13 mm in diameter, green or reddish green at first, turning dark purple or black when ripe in late summer or early autumn.

See it in action - Portuguese laurel projects