Plant Identification?

[Mikekey]

This plant is a volunteer (we have lots of birds and squirrels who bring things in) and before I spend hours going through my plant encyclopedia, I thought I would see if anyone here could I.D. it. It is about 2 feet tall and seems to be evergreen, since it had leaves all through the worst winter we have had in years. The leaves are a bit waxy in texture. No flowers, but has what looks like buds on it. I hope it is not a weed or something that is going to be 30 feet tall, because I would like to keep it







Thanks!

[Zeldaz]

I sure would like to know, I've never seen anything like it!

[KeyWee]

Me either ~ have the buds "done" anything yet (as in some kind of bloom)? A type of euphorbia maybe? There are SO many of those.

[Mikekey]

The little bud clusters are still just that. They look like maybe they might turn into a hard berry of some sort. I have a few euphorbias but none that are evergreen, as this plant has proven to be. The birds around here "drop" seeds all of the time. A few years ago I had a "new" plant show up that was nice looking so I left it and now I have a wonderful Star Jasmine!

If it stops raining one of these days I'll take some more photos of the mystery plant.

[KeyWee]

Yeah, my euphorbs aren't evergreen either but I wasn't sure of your zone. So ..... I have google-imaged every imaginable description of this plant and have come up empty. You have a real poser with this one.
Have you tried the "Name That Plant" forum on GardenWeb. There's hardly a plant that someone there can't identify.

[Mikekey]

Will look into that site. Never been there.

Thanks.

[KeyWee]

Wow ~ looks like you got your answer over on GW already! There are some pretty amazing identifiers over there. Seems like the plant was familiar to a local in your area.
I check in at GW on their Plant and Seed exchange forums now and then, and I always check out "Name That Plant" in case I may learn something

[Zeldaz]

So what is it?

[Mikekey]

Here is the answer I got on GW:

"Daphne laureola or spurge laurel. And you are right - was planted by the birds! Tends to be fairly common in many areas around Puget Sound, to the point where it is now considered a noxious weed."

and a link to the King County Noxious Weed site:

http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/animalsAndPlants/noxious-weeds/weed-identification/spurge-laurel.aspx

That is an amazing Garden web site and thanks for pointing me there! http://www.gardenweb.com/

The plant will be coming out soon. Too bad, because it IS attractive, but since I live in a greenbelt and near a wetlands, I try to keep things like this from spreading.

[KeyWee]

Well it is (or should I say WAS) a pretty plant Mikey ~ so much for that. I have had my share of attractive "noxious weeds" before and probably will again. Planted my share of bamboo and houttunyia (don't get me started) and nobody said THOSE were noxious ~ sheeeesh.
So far, no kudzu on the property but don't think I haven't been tempted. But I do have cane grass (arundo donax) and only got that by begging. Maybe not a good plan. Thank goodness I have the room.
SOOOO glad you found your answer on GW. There is a generally good group of people there (let's just say they are more helpful than the know-it-alls at Dave's Garden ~ whoops, did I just say that??)

[Mikekey]

Yeah, I don't care much for Dave's either!

[Zeldaz]

Wonder how it might do confined to a pot indoors?

[Mikekey]

Don't know. Because of a cat and very little window ledge space, I don't do houseplants. But the County website I linked above says it is very toxic to pets and humans, so take that into consideration if you should decide to try it.

If I didn't live at the edge of the greenbelt and wetlands, I would just let it go, but will have to find something to replace it, since I have decided I like having a shrub in that spot. (and I don't want any rhodies! The neighbor seems to think gardening involves LOTS of rhodies and most of hers are very large and VERY garrish colors )