spotted laurel [4]

A vigorous, evergreen shrub of rounded habit, up to 2m (6½ft) high, having long, narrow, bright green leaves, with toothed margins. Plants can be either male or female. The males produce dark purple flowers in spring, with four yellow stamens, while the females produce small, stamenless, dark purple flowers in spring, followed by clusters of bright red, oval berries in autumn, if a male aucuba is flowering nearby to fertilise the flowers.