Spurge Laurel

Daphne laureola

Spirally arranged leaves; yellow-green bell shaped flowers grow in clusters between leaves at tops of stems; green to black egg-shaped berries.

Life Forms	Shrub
Habitats	Forest openings Forest understories Little Habitats Mixed hardwood-conifer forests Oak woodlands Parklands Residential yards Woodlands
ODA Listing	B
Soil and Moisture Conditions	Dry to moist
Suggested Actions	Report to Oregon Invasives Hotline Use BMPs to control on private property
Shade Preference	Full shade Part shade
Mature Height	1.5-5'
Distribution	Found in most of western Oregon, especially the Willamette Valley. Also found in the Columbia River Gorge area.
Control	Hand pull, dig up, or use a weed wrench to extract the plant and roots. Repeat annually until no more seedlings are found.
Disposal Methods	Fruits should be bagged and placed in municipal waste.
Reproduction and Spread	Birds spread the seeds.
Introduced	Native to Europe and Northern Africa
Look Alikes	Rhododendrons, Andromeda
Impact	Can degrade Douglas-fir forests and Oak woodlands. Forms thick patches that block sunlight, out-compete native flora, alter the soil chemistry, and potentially alter natural succession. The leaves, bark, and berries are toxic to humans, dogs, and cats.
More Info	https://kingcounty.gov/services/environment/animals-and-plants/noxious-weeds/weed-identification/spurge-laurel.aspx https://www.oregon.gov/oda/shared/Documents/Publications/Weeds/SpurgeLaurelProfile.pdf