Despite the common name, this woodland shrub is neither a spurge nor a laurel. It is one of two species of Daphne native to Great Britain, with Daphne mezereum L. Both have a strong preference for alkaline soils and are most commonly found in limestone areas, although D. laureola is also found on clay. However, unlike D. mezereum, D. laureola is evergreen, with yellowish-green flowers borne very early in the spring and black berries, which are poisonous to humans but not to birds, present from late summer. All parts of the plant is poisonous. The sap is known to cause skin rashes on contact.
This species occurs naturally throughout the chalk downland of Wiltshire & Dorset. It naturally occurs in one site in Devon. Other Cornish botanists make the statement it is only ever an escape or a planted bush in Cornwall. But I might argue that there is no reason why it isn’t native on the north Cornwall dunes, as it was more common in the past.
Daphne laureola is not a FRM controlled species. But is FRM Certified under the voluntary scheme. However, Daphne mezereum is not on the Forestry Commission’s native list (I’d guess because it’s not a Scottish native, and their list is a Scottish list only) so it can’t be certified!
