Key identifying traits
- An evergreen shrub
branching from the ground; it ranges from 1 ½ - 4 ½’ tall
- It has small, tubular,
sweet smelling, yellow-green, 4-lobed flowers
- Fruits are small green
and egg shaped, turning black later in the season
- The shrubs have glossy,
leathery leaves that are narrowly oval & clustered near the top
of the stems
Biology and
ecology
- Spurge laurel is a
perennial shrub
- All plant parts are
toxic to humans, dogs, and cats, but the berries can be eaten by
birds
- This plant is a native
species of England, Wales, and the Channel Islands; it is also
native in some African countries
- It has escaped
ornamental plantings but is no longer widely sold by the nursery
industry
- It grows well in
drained, loamy clay soils that are neutral to slightly acidic &
tolerates dense shade
Control
Prevention –
Learn to identify plants; start monitoring early in the season
Biological –
There is an aphid in New Zealand, the Myzus persicae, that
carries the carlavirus to which the plant is said to be
susceptible
Cultural –
Planting grass or another cover crop can help keep seeds from
germinating
Mechanical –
Young plants can be pulled; Plants that are 3 years or younger
can be cut off with a 95% mortality rate (make sure to wear
protective gloves) older plants should be cut below the soil
line
Chemical – There
are no specific chemical recommendations for spurge laurel but
the brush control portion of the:
PNW Weed
Management handbook may be useful |
Image©2003 Ben Legler, WTU Herbarium |
