Tree of the Week: The dependable Laurel-Leaf Cocculus

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Laurel-Leaf Cocculus – Cocculus laurifolius

Not many trees grow equally well in sun or shade. But the Laurel-Leaf Cocculus, a native of South Japan and the Himalayas, goes its own way, regardless of its surroundings.

This dependable plant looks fresh and shiny green, with a dark and dense interior. The leaves have a unique three-vein structure, with one prominent vein in the middle and the other two close to the leaf edges. Once shaped, it is a rather low-maintenance tree that is used as a screening, accent or entrance plant. It is also known as Platter-Leaf and Laurel-Leaf Snailseed and is a member of the Menispermaceae or Moonseed family. Alkaloids isolated from the leaves were used in Indian folk medicine. The cut-foliage industry uses the leaves to add green to bouquets.

The evergreen cocculus starts out slowly but gradually becomes a moderately fast-growing shrub or arching, umbrella-shaped, multi-trunked small tree, to 15 to 25 feet tall and wide, depending on how it is pruned. The vining branches are also easily espaliered to create a flat green screen. The bark is smooth and brown. Alternate, simple, pointed, leathery, shiny, elliptical leaves are 6-plus inches long. Insignificant, small greenish white flowers are followed by small, blackberry-like fruit. The tree is moderately drought-resistant but prefers moderate to regular water. It is not demanding about soil, has non-invasive roots and is little bothered by pests and insects.

-- Pieter Severynen

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