Prunus Lusitanica – Portugal Laurel is deep green, leathery foliage forms a dense canopy on this hardy evergreen large shrub or small tree. The Portuguese Laurel is a useful as a screening plant and can be pruned to form a hedge. It can also be used as a specimen or street tree as it has a naturally beautiful form. If it’s too big for you as it is, can prune them into standards, or all sorts of shapes and sizes.