Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
1–1.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
NeutralColour & scent
Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
Spring | Green Yellow | Green | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Summer | Green | |||
Autumn | Green | Black | ||
Winter | Green |
Position
- Full shade
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Thymelaeaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Bushy
- Potentially harmful
- TOXIC 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
- 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
- Bulgaria to Iran
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile, humus-rich, well-drained but not dry soil in sun or part shade. Mulch to keep roots cool. Tolerant of deep shade. Will not tolerate root disturbance and so resents transplanting
Propagation
Propagate by seed in containters in a cold frame as soon as ripe. Greenwood cuttings from spring to early summer and semi-ripe cuttings in summer. Layering from late spring to early summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Gravel garden
- Cottage and informal garden
- Rock garden
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
Pruning group 1 or Pruning group 8 if necessary. Pruning is best kept to a minimum
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), phytophthora root rot, fungal leaf spot and virus diseases
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.