Spurge-laurel, February daphne Spurge-laurel, February daphne

Shrubs to 1.5 m, branches glabrous. Leaves persistent, subsessile; blade obovate, oblong, or lanceolate, 3–8 × 1–1.5 cm, coriaceous, adaxial surface shiny. Inflorescences 2–10-flowered. Flowers sessile or short-pedicellate, appearing after leaves have matured, clustered in axils on current year’s growth; hypanthium yellow-green or yellow, tubular to narrowly funnelform, 3–8 mm, glabrous; calyx lobes ovate, 2.5–4 mm. Drupes black.

Flowering late winter–early spring (Feb–Apr). Oak and conifer woods; 0–300 m; introduced; B.C., Oreg., Wash.; s Europe; sw Asia; n Africa; Mediterranean region.

Daphne laureola is locally invasive in the Pacific Northwest.