(This is the eighth in a series on invasive species that inhabit the Mountain
ecosystem.)

It has been spotted on the Mountain, it has the ability to travel great
distances, and it’s toxic.

A tanker truck? A rabid bear?

Would you believe a shrub?

The spurge laurel is not a plant to mess around with, according to local
conservationist and constant weed watcher Jenny Bieger.

“The spurge laurel can cause harm to both your pets and your family if not
handled correctly,” Bieger said. “All parts of the plant, including the leaves,
stem, sap and berries contain toxic chemicals that may cause irritation to the
skin and the eyes.”

Jason Dumont, Portland preserves manager for The Nature Conservancy,
sounds a similar warning about the evergreen shrub.

“Just touching the plant with bare skin can leave a painful burn,” Dumont
said. “And ingesting the berries or woody parts can make a person or pet
extremely sick.”

The laurel was first introduced to the Pacific Northwest as an ornamental and
landscaping shrub due to its deceivingly fragrant blossoms and attractive
foliage. It is already a serious concern in British Columbia and has been
showing up closer to home – in the Columbia River Gorge, along the
Clackamas River and in the Sandy Basin Watershed.

“The fact that this plant is already escaping urban and suburban centers and
spreading into forest lands is worrisome,” Dumont said. “Without prompt
action and cooperation from private landowners whose properties are already
infested, we’ll have another aggressive invasive species dominating our forest
lands.”

Spurge laurel has the ability to invade natural areas and form dense stands
that limit native plant growth. Its ability to migrate is impressive as the seeds
are easily spread by birds and rodents who love to eat its dark black berries
and distribute them to distant locations.

It is also possible that the plant is thriving in back yards along the Sandy
River.

“Private landowners may not be aware that they have this or other invasive
weeds in their yards,” said Chris Hagel, a natural resource technician for
Metro. “But (they) can help prevent the spread by getting to know what plant
species are invasive and inspecting their property.”

Spurge laurel is an evergreen shrub, growing up to 4-5 feet tall with
distinctive whorls of leaves at the end of each branch. Leaves are dark green,
shiny, and have a thick, leathery feel. They are oblong in shape, growing 1-5
inches long and 1/2 to 1 inch wide. The hardy branches have a grey-yellow
hue and a strong odor when cut. The yellow-green flowers are small and
inconspicuous, forming clusters at the base of the leaves. Flowering occurs
January to late March and is followed by oval, black berries in early summer.

Manual methods of control are effective, but “due to the toxic nature of the
plant, gloves and protective gear should always be worn,” Bieger said.

“Seedlings can be easily hand pulled while larger plants should be pulled with
a weed wench.”

Care should be taken to remove the entire tap root. Older or very large
infestations should be cut down below the soil line to minimize resprouting.

“This plant grows well in shade and becomes so dense it displaces the native
plants that should be growing in its place,” Hagel said. “It doesn’t seem to
spread like wildfire, but if left unchecked the silent invasion will do
considerable damage to our native forests.”

Numerous agencies are taking action against the invasive shrub on both
public and private land and the public’s help is needed to spot infestations.

Spurge laurel is listed as an “Early Detection Rapid Response” invader and
natural area sightings of this weed in the basin are important to document.

To report an infestation log on at www.oregoninvasiveshotline.org.