British Native Trees
and Shrubs

Spurge-Laurel Daphne laureola (Thymelaeaceae)

The impressive, broadly spear-shaped leaves of the evergreen spurge-laurel are almost exotic in appearance with their deep-green glossiness and slightly leathery texture. Named because they look a little like smaller versions of those of the true laurel, Laurus, they are 4-11 cm long, splaying out from the top of upright branches which are usually bare below and reach up to 1 m in height. From February to April the axils of the upper leaves are decorated with clusters of five to ten bright yellow-green flowers that are fragrant in mild, moist conditions. Each tubular flower has four, pointed, wide-open lobes. The shiny, black, egg-shaped fruits each contain one, hard, very poisonous seed.

Spurge-laurel is widespread in beech and other open, mixed woods and along woodland margins on calcareous soils throughout England, but is rarer in the west.

Spurge-laurel is one of the most desirable native evergreen shrubs for an open bed or border, providing year-round interest with bright, early flowers and attractive berries, turning from green to black as they ripen in late summer. It flourishes in sun or semi-shade and prefers alkaline soils, although in cultivation it will tolerate acid soils. Keep the plant away from paths because it does not regenerate easily if it is damaged. It is best propagated by taking cuttings with a heel in late summer, potting them up and growing them on in a sheltered, shady spot before planting out in the second autumn or following spring. It may also be raised from seed, but germination is erratic and only a few seedlings may appear. These can be potted singly and grown on in the same way as rooted cuttings.

The sweet-scented flowers attract pollinating moths and humble bees, while the berries, though deadly poisonous to people, are relished by birds such as greenfinches.

Page last updated - January 10, 2002  

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