About
An upright, compact and bushy evergreen shrub with long, narrow leathery leaves. Deep pink buds open to clusters of dainty, strongly-scented, pale pink-flushed flowers in late winter.
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
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageEvergreen
Height1.5-2.5 metres
Spread1-1.5 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal 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 deep, fertile, evenly moist, preferably neutral soils; will not tolerate drought or waterlogging. Mulch to keep roots cool. Plants resent transplanting. See daphne cultivation for more details
PruningSee pruning groups 1 and 8; pruning is best kept to a minimum
PropagationPropagate by semi-hardwood cuttings in summer, or by grafting in winter
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), phytophthora root rot, fungal leaf spot and virus diseases