About
An upright, evergreen shrub to 1.2m tall with lance-shaped, glossy, dark green leaves. Terminal heads of scented white flowers are borne in late spring and followed by scarlet red fruits.
About the genus
Daphne can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs with small, usually very fragrant tubular, 4-lobed flowers, often followed by colourful berries
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, East-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageEvergreen
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Rock garden
FragranceFlower
ToxicityTOXIC if eaten, skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling TOXIC to pets - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
CultivationGrow in moderately fertile, slightly acid to slightly alkaline, humus-rich, well-drained but not dry soil in sun or partial shade. Mulch to keep roots cool. Daphnes resent transplanting. Further daphne cultivation advice
PruningPruning group 1 or pruning group 8; keep pruning to a minimum
PropagationPropagate by whip grafting in late winter or by semi-ripe heel cuttings in mid- to late summer
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), phytophthora root rot, fungal leaf spot and virus diseases