Daphne laureola
Common name: 
Spurge Laurel
Pronunciation: 
DAF-ne low-REE-o-la
Family: 
Thymelaeaceae
Genus: 
Daphne
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Broadleaf evergreen shrub, much branched, slow growing to about 5 ft (1.5 m) tall.  Leaves alternate, simple, crowded at branch tips, about 7 cm × 2 cm, obovate or oblong, tips acute to obtuse, tapered at the base, leathery, deep glossy green above.  Flowers small, pale to yellow-green, 3-8 mm long and 4 mm wide, 5-20 per cluster (raceme), sometimes fragrant, unattractive to pleasant odor.   Fruit ovoid, bluish black, fleshy.
  • Part sun to heavy shade.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 6      Native to western and southeastern Europe, including Briton, and North Africa.  A semi-prostrate, compact form, D. laureola subsp. philippi, is also grown.
  • An invasive species in some areas and is listed as a weed in the Pacific Northwest where it is a threat to certain native forest ecosystems.
  • Oregon State Univ. campus: SW area of Sachett dorm, along west wall
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, spring flowering

    plant habit, spring flowering

  • flowering shoot

    flowering shoot

  • flower cluster

    flower cluster

  • shoot tip

    shoot tip

  • fruit clusters

    fruit clusters

  • leaves and fruit

    leaves and fruit