About
A slow-growing, semi-evergreen shrub, to around 1m high, with narrowly oval-shaped green leaves, finely edged with a pale yellow that fades to creamy white. Clusters of small, scented, pale lilac pink flowers are produced at the tips of the stems in spring.
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 pHNeutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageSemi evergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.5-1 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 fertile, moist but well-drained soils that don't dry out. Mulch to keep roots cool. Plants resent transplanting, and prefer being planted in the ground rather than containers. 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