Daphne × burkwoodii 'Somerset'

RHS Plant Profile
Burkwood daphne 'Somerset'

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Daphne × burkwoodii 'Somerset'?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
Burkwood daphne 'Somerset' RHS
Burkwood daphne 'Somerset' Dorling Kindersley 2003
Award of Garden Merit
Shrubs
Thank you - your purchase supports our charity work Buy this from RHS Plants Shop
Buy online from £34.99Buy this from Plant Nurseries
4 Suppliers

A compact semi-evergreen shrub of upright habit, with oblanceolate leaves and terminal clusters of small, fragrant purplish-pink flowers with paler lobes, in late spring

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H4

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Thymelaeaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Potentially harmful
TOXIC if eatenskin 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
Genus
Daphne can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs with small, usually very fragrant tubular, 4-lobed flowers, often followed by colourful berries
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soils. Not reliably hardy in exposed conditions. Resents transplanting

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings or grafting

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 8

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), phytophthora root rot, fungal leaf spot and virus diseases