Spurge Laurel
Daphne laureola
Spurge Laurel - An evergreen shrub that gets to be around 1.5 to 5 feet tall. Plants can either be upright or arched at the base before spreading upwards.
Leaves: Leaves alternate and are more prominent towards the top of the shoots. They are dark green and shiny on the top with lighter undersides. Leaves are oval in shape and about 0.8-5.1 inches long.
Flowers: Flowers bloom from March through June. Small, green and yellow flowers grow at the base of the leaves and are fragrant.
Habitat: Commonly found amongst the forest understory. Spurge Laurel prefers partial sun.
Weed Classification: B Designate
Why is it a Noxious Weed?
It has the ability to rapidly colonize and form monocultures, which then compete with native vegetation, especially in forest understories. All parts of the plant are highly toxic, and the sap from all parts of the plant are skin irritants.
Spurge Laurel occurs in Lewis County, often either in ornamental and landscaped settings or in forest understories. There is a large infestation near Ike Kinswa State Park in Silver Creek, WA. Please see our spurge laurel infographic for more information.
Control Recommendations: