# Spurge-laurel (*Daphne laureola*) Spurge-laurel is a lovely green shrub that grows in shady places. It has shiny leaves and small yellow-green flowers that bloom in spring, making it a special sight in the forest. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Forests ![Spurge-laurel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Daphne_laureola.jpg&width=800) Photo: User:Tigerente, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Daphne_laureola.jpg) ## Appearance The Spurge-laurel has glossy, dark green leaves that are clustered at the top of its stems, appearing almost like rosettes. Its tiny, yellowish-green flowers are tucked among the leaves, later developing into small, shiny black berries. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Malvales - **Family:** Thymelaeaceae - **Genus:** Daphne ## Interesting facts - Despite its small size, the wood of the Spurge-laurel is surprisingly tough and dense! - Its name "Daphne" comes from an ancient Greek myth about a nymph who turned into a laurel tree! - NEVER eat the shiny black berries or any part of this plant; they are extremely poisonous! - The plant blooms in winter, making it one of the very first sources of nectar for early insects! ## Special abilities - **Toxic Shield:** Spurge-laurel has powerful toxins in all its parts, especially the berries, that help it defend against hungry animals. - **Evergreen Power:** Spurge-laurel keeps its waxy, dark green leaves all year round, helping it make food even in cold winter months. - **Shade Seeker:** Spurge-laurel can grow happily in deep shade under big trees, which helps it find a home others might avoid. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-150 cm - **Spread:** 50-100 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late winter to early spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Deadly - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits early spring flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Eats:** [Common Blackbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-blackbird) (*Turdus merula*) — Eats ripe berries, helping to disperse the seeds. - **Parasitizes:** Daphne leaf spot fungus (*Marssonina daphnes*) — Causes leaf spot disease, weakening the plant's foliage. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Do not eat any part of the plant, as it can be harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Spurge-laurel? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Spurge-laurel? 50-150 cm ### How wide does Spurge-laurel spread? 50-100 cm ### How big are the flowers on Spurge-laurel? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Spurge-laurel bloom? Late winter to early spring ### Is Spurge-laurel edible? No ### Is Spurge-laurel toxic? Deadly ### What is Spurge-laurel's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Holland Creek Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/holland-creek-park) — British Columbia, CA · Park - [Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-rodd-hill-and-fisgard-lighthouse-national-historic-sites) — British Columbia, CA · Museum - [Gamble Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gamble-park) — British Columbia, CA · Park [View all places to see Spurge-laurel](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/spurge-laurel) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Spurge-laurel: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spurge-laurel)