Daphne laureola L.

Horticultural & Botanical History

An ancient garden plant.  ‘In woods and thickets, in clay and chalky soils.  Rather rare or local, but widely distributed in England.  Very rare in Scotland, and having very slender claims to be considered native in that country, being only found in ornamental woods. […] The Spurge Laurel possesses similar properties to the Mezereon [see Daphne mezereum L.], and may in many cases be substituted for it.  Though not so showy in its flowers, it is a valuable plant for shrubberies, from its being evergreen, and from its thick glossy leaves being disposed in tufts at the end of its branches, so as to give it a full bushy appearance.  It thrives best in the shade, and will grow under the drip of trees, where few other plants would thrive.  The berries are black when ripe, and are a favourite food of singing-birds, though poisonous to all other creatures.’  [English Botany vol.8, p.86/1863-1886].

Figured in Saint-Hilaire pl.325/1831.  This figure is used as illustration here.

History at Camden Park

Listed in all published catalogues [T.376/1843], an earlier importation was possibly lost as it was obtained from Kew Gardens, brought out from England by Captain P. P. King in 1849.  Macarthur indicated that it was not new to the colony.  [ML A1980-3].

Notes