Danae racemosa
An evergreen shrub distinguished by leaf-like phylloclades, slow-growing and hardy in zones 7–9, with small green flowers and red berries in fall, preferring shade and moist soil.
Common Names
Alexandrian Laurel, Poet's Laurel, Italian Laurel
Summary
Alexandrian laurel is an evergreen shrub native to Turkey and Iran, with arching sprays of slender, glossy dark green cladodes (flattened stems) rather than true leaves. It bears small greenish-yellow flowers and orange-red berries, forming a clump about 1 m tall and 1 m wide that spreads by rhizomes.
In cultivation, it favors partial to full shade with moist, well-drained soil and tolerates dry shade; propagation is by seed or division; it is commonly used for borders, woodland plantings, and durable cut foliage in floristry.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
2-5 feet
Spread
3-4 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 7-9
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally partial shade to full shade.
Soil Type
Moist, well-drained loamy soil rich in organic matter, pH 6.0–7.0
Soil Drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Tolerates all pH levels
Bloom Color
Greenish yellow
Bloom Time
Summer
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
No fall color.
Leaf Lifecycle
Evergreen broadleaf
Growth Rate
Slow growth; reaches full potential after 4–5 years; 5–7 years from seed to saleable plant.
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Division, Stem cuttings, Rooted cuttings, Air layering, Grafting, Rhizomes
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts wildlife
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- (L.) Moench
- Publication
- Methodus : 170 (1794)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Asparagales
- Family
- Asparagaceae
- Genus
- Danae
Synonyms
Ruscus racemosus Danae laurus Danaidia racemosa Ruscus terminalis