Daphne mezereum f. alba

RHS Plant Profile

white-flowered mezereon

Synonyms

Daphne mezereum 'Alba'

Shrubs

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An upright deciduous shrub with narrow, dull green leaves and very fragrant white flowers before the leaves in late winter and early spring, followed by yellow berries

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: North–facing or South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or 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): H6

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Thymelaeaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
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: Correct
Plant Range: Europe W Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained, but not dry soil, in sun or part shade. Mulch to keep roots cool. Will not tolerate root disturbance and so resents transplanting. Further daphne cultivation advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed and sow when fresh. Take root cuttings in winter, nodal stem-tip greenwood cuttings from spring to early summer and semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Gravel garden
Cottage and informal garden
Rock garden
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

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