Poet's Laurel Danae racemosa
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Danae laurus
- Danaidia racemosa
- Ruscus racemosus
- Phonetic Spelling
- dan-AY-ee-uh ray-see-MO-suh
- Description
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Poet's laurel has an open habit with slender branches that arch up and away from the center of the crown to a height of 4 feet and width of 4 feet. It can resemble a clump of bamboo and spreads like one through its rhizomes.
It prefers moist, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter though it tolerates the elusive dry shade. It tolerates clay and sand as long as there is adequate moisture. Once it is established it is fairly drought tolerant. There can be some damage during cold winters but it does not seem to affect the underground buds from producing leaves the next year. It is fairly difficult to propagate both by seed and division of older plants so it may be challenging to find it in the nurseries.
The glossy green foliage is long-lasting so ideal for flower arrangements. But its real stunning beauty comes in late fall and winter with its beautiful display of bright orange-red round berries. Gracefully arching branches make it a lovely specimen for spilling over a wall or walkway or tucked in a rock garden. It also works well planted at a stream or pond edge as the branches will lightly dip into the water. They also do well in the deep shade of the under canopy of rhododendrons or mountain laurels in a woodland garden.
Quick ID Hints:
- Shiny, bright green stems, 'petioles' and 'leaves'
- Cladophylls are alternate, lanceolate, 'parallel-veined'
- Small evergreen shrub with red-orange berries
- Minute, hair-like leaves at base of cladophylls
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Its lush foliage discolors in full sun so keep it in partial to full shade.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- A Sampling of Shade Gardens
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Danae
- Species:
- racemosa
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Foliage long-lasting for flower arrangements and wreaths.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Turkey, Iran
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Open
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 0.5" green in the summer turn to bright orange-red berries in fall and persist into winter. Up to ten berries can be in one grouping which makes it quite showy. An orbicular berry, orange-red.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Non-showy, terminal racemes 1/8" greenish yellow bell-shaped flowers from leaf axils. Monecious. (5-8) greenish yellow, 3/4-1 1/4".
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, lustrous, rich, emerald green, modified stems called phylloclades; 1.5-4" long; tapered point on each end. Minute and hairlike at base of cladophylls.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- There is occasional stem dieback so prune out those stems. Green, rigid, branched, clumped; cladophylls alternate,oblong-lanceolate, acute, narrowed at base and shortly stalked, ridged longitudinally, shiny green.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Pond
- Rock Wall
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heavy Shade