Danae racemosa, commonly known as Alexandrian Laurel, is an evergreen shrub native to the understorey of woodlands and forest margins in the Middle East, including Iran and Turkey. It typically grows to about 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 meters) in height and spreads to a similar width, forming a dense clump of arching stems. The glossy, lance-shaped leaves are a deep green and provide year-round interest. Small, inconspicuous greenish flowers appear in spring, followed by ornamental orange-red berries in the fall, which can persist into winter.

Alexandrian Laurel is valued for its lush foliage and ability to thrive in shaded conditions, making it an excellent choice for understory plantings, shaded borders, or as a low-maintenance ground cover. It is also suitable for urban gardens due to its tolerance of pollution and confined spaces. While it requires minimal watering once established, it prefers well-drained soils rich in organic matter. Alexandrian Laurel is resistant to most pests and diseases, but it can be sensitive to overly wet conditions which may lead to root rot. It is not known to be invasive outside its native range and is recognized for its horticultural merits by the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.CC BY-SA 4.0