DAPHNE

Commonly known as Variegated daphne

Daphnes require good, rich, loamy soil and good drainage is essential for success.

Genus of about 100 species of deciduous, semi-evergreen or evergreen shrubs from Europe, northern Africa and temperate and subtropical Asia.

Their main attraction is the clusters of usually heavily scented flowers. Some have variegated leaves. They can be grown in borders, rock gardens and in a woodland setting.

The "Eternal" series are a result of a successful 30 year breeding programme to produce a free-flowering Daphne more tolerant of a wide range of soil and garden conditions.

All are attractive to bees and other insects, the earlier bloomers being particularly useful.

D. mezereum, Mezereon, is the native. Found in woods on calcareous soils is very rare.

Full Plant Details - Sun/Soil & other attributes

Good to know
All daphnes resent transplanting. x burkwoodii has a habit of shedding leaves in dry summers. This does not affect the performance of the plant and new leaves appear in autumn or spring. Attractive to bees and other insects.
Pests & Diseases
Aphids, leaf spot, grey mould, viruses.
Place of origin
Garden origin
Semi-evergreen
Keeps some of its foliage all year, and will drop some leaves as well.

Linear to lance-shaped leaves to 4cm (1½in) long.
Border
Suitable for a shrub border
Fully hardy
Borderline
Gold variegated
Height
1.5m (5ft)
Spread
1.5m (5ft)
Medium shrub
Typically grow to around 4-6 feet in height

Upright, densely-branched shrub. Flowers in terminal clusters of up to 16 flowers 8mm (less than ½in) across.
Hardy - average winter
Hardy through most of the UK apart from inland valleys, at altitude and central/northerly locations. May suffer foliage damage and stem dieback in harsh winters in cold gardens. Plant can withstand temperatures down to -10°C (14°F)

Borderline
Scented flowers
Fertile well drained soil
Humus rich but not dry - mulch to keep roots cool.
Neutral soil preferred
Or slightly alkaline to slightly acidic
Full sun
Partial shade
Bee friendly

Mature Size

1.5m (5ft)
	1.5m (5ft)

View Planting Tips and Care Advice

Cold weather damage to evergreen plants

What do with cold weather damage

Daphne - Care Guide

More Care Guides & Tips

Search Caerhays Garden Diary for more info & pictures

View Customers Also Bought

DAPHNE odora

Winter daphne

Available from £22.50

view

DAPHNE x transatlantica 'Pink Fragrance'

Available from £27.50

view

CISTUS pulverulentus 'Sunset'

Rock rose

Available from £14.50

view

DAPHNE mezereum 'Rubra'

Mezereon

Available from £35.00

view

DAPHNE bholua 'Alba'

White flowers with a particularly striking scent

1.5 Litre

£40.00

Available again from June 2026

DAPHNE bholua 'Darjeeling'

Very pale pink flowers fading to white

2 to 3 Litre

£55.00

DAPHNE bholua 'Jacqueline Postill'

Large and showy intensely fragrant purplish pink flowers

Medium

£40.00

Large

£65.00

DAPHNE bholua 'Mary Rose'

Deep purple-pink, darker in bud. Comparatively large flowers and highly scented

2 Litre

£60.00

DAPHNE bholua 'Spring Herald'

Pure white flowers on this early flowering and highly scented shrub

Large

£45.00

Estimated availability autumn 2026 Any time SEPT-DEC
Not yet confirmed. Could be any time between September and December.

DAPHNE gemmata

Bushy habit and clusters of yellow flowers in late spring to summer followed by red fruits

1.5 to 2 Litre

£30.00

DAPHNE laureola subsp. philippi

Spurge laurel

Fragrant yellow-green flowers beneath polished green leaves. Semi-prostrate habit

1 Litre

£35.00

Unavailable

DAPHNE mezereum 'Rubra'

Mezereon

Scented purplish-red flowers

Large

£35.00

Unavailable

DAPHNE odora

Winter daphne

Fragrant with reddish-purple flowers

1.5 to 2 Litre

£22.50

Unavailable

DAPHNE odora 'Aureomarginata'

Winter daphne

Leaves have a yellow margin which becomes creamy-white with age

Small

£22.50

DAPHNE odora f.alba

(var leucantha) - pure white flowered form

1.5 Litre

£35.00

Unavailable

DAPHNE odora 'Mae-jima'

Compact habit and attractive creamy-yellow edged green leaves. Profuse dark pink, strongly fragrant flowers

2 to 3 Litre

£35.00

Estimated availability autumn 2026 Any time SEPT-DEC
Not yet confirmed. Could be any time between September and December.

DAPHNE odora 'Marianni'

('Rogbret'). - green leaves with broad golden yellow margins. Very fragrant tubular pink flowers in late winter, early spring

1 to 1.5 Litre

£17.50

Unavailable

Large

£35.00

Estimated availability autumn 2026 Any time SEPT-DEC
Not yet confirmed. Could be any time between September and December.

DAPHNE 'Perfume Princess'

Large clusters of very fragrant white flowers with a hint of pink at the centre

Medium

£30.00

Large

£50.00

DAPHNE 'Perfume Princess White'

Large white flowers with a strong fragrance

2 Litre

£35.00

DAPHNE pontica

Clusters of scented yellowish-green flowers and blue-black fruits

2 Litre

£35.00

Estimated availability autumn 2026 Any time SEPT-DEC
Not yet confirmed. Could be any time between September and December.

DAPHNE 'Spring Beauty'

Flowers tinged pink. Glorious scent

Small

£25.00

Large

£45.00

Estimated availability autumn 2026 Any time SEPT-DEC
Not yet confirmed. Could be any time between September and December.

DAPHNE 'Sweetheart'

This daphne flowers in spring and, again, in summer. Deep pink flowers in clusters with a sweet fragrance

Small

£27.50

Available late spring to early summer 2026
Spring according to the Met Office is defined as March 1st - May 31st. Therefore late spring is mid-April onwards. This is not a guaranteed date but an estimate and subject to availability.