Spurge-laurel

The first plant to flower in quantity in our Chiltern woodlands each January is Spurge-laurel, Daphne laureola. Its flowers are rather understated compared with the rest of the Daphne genus, including the much rarer Mezereon which can be found in another nature reserve nearby. However, the mass of dark, glossy leaves makes it a striking feature in our dingy beech woods at this time of year.