Daphne odora var. rubra

RHS Plant Profile

red winter daphne

RHS 1999

Shrubs

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A compact evergreen shrub with glossy, narrowly oval leaves and crimson buds opening in late winter and early spring into highly fragrant, purplish-red flowers with white lobes

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

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

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or East–facing or North–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: 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: Correct
Plant Range: China

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Mulch annually in spring with well-rotted organic matter to keep the roots cool. Not reliably hardy in exposed conditions, may need winter protection. Resents root disturbance and transplanting. See daphne cultivation for more information

Propagation

Take nodal stem-tip greenwood and semi-ripe cuttings just as the base begins to firm up. Hormone rooting compound, a free-draining compost and bottom heat of 15°C (59°F) will improve rooting. Layering of shoots take a year to become well rooted

Suggested planting locations and garden types

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

Pruning

Pruning group 1 or pruning group 8; keep pruning to a minimum

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids and scale insects

Diseases

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