Scientific name: Daphne laureola
Family: THYMELAEACEAE
Common names: “spurge laurel” “copse laurel” “wood laurel” “dwarf bay”
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub, WEED!
Conditions:
Zone: 7-8
Light: Full shade – semi-shade
Exposure: Sheltered
Soil: Average soil
Moisture: Well drained – summer drought
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: H 2′-4′ W 3′-5′
Leaf and Stem shape: Glossy dark green leaves on a rubber-like woody stem
Flower: Clusters of greenish yellow flowers, followed by black berries, which are even more toxic than the rest of the plant, but birds eat them and spread the seed
Pruning: Do not prune, stems release toxic fumes when cut
Maintenance: Pull by roots and throw in garbage or burn, not accepted in compost dumps
Landscape use: Do not plant this
Propagate: By seed, cuttings and layering, so if you throw this in your compost you will be spreading it in your garden
Pests & Disease: None in Victoria
Comments: Should not be in a garden with children, should not be handled by people with asthma, eradicate this toxic plant, may cause acute respiratory issues, sap may irritate skin
