Daphne arbuscula
shrubby daphne
D. arbuscula is a rounded dwarf evergreen shrub to 15cm tall, with narrowly oblong, dark glossy green leaves to 18mm long. Flowers deep pink, very fragrant, in dense clusters at the ends of the shoots in late spring and early summer
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Pink | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Pink | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | Brown | ||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Thymelaeaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Matforming
- Potentially harmful
- All parts toxic by ingestion and may irritate skin. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
- Genus
Daphne can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs with small, usually very fragrant tubular, 4-lobed flowers, often followed by colourful berries
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Czech Rep. Hungary Slovakia
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile, humus-rich well-drained but not dry soil. Mulch to keep roots cool. Prefers slightly acid to slightly alkaline soil in full sun. Resents transplanting
Propagation
Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe. Insert softwood cuttings in early to mid-summer, and semi-ripe and evergreen cuttings in mid or late summer. Graft in winter or layer in spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Gravel garden
- Rock garden
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
Pruning group 1 or pruning group 8, keep pruning to a minimum
Pests
Young growth may be affected by aphids
Diseases
For leaf spot problems see leaf damage on woody plants; grey moulds and virus diseases may be troublesome
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.