Daphne, a winter flower shrub

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Gradient flowers in white, pink and purple open in uncountable numbers in the depths of winter, throwing out a scent of jasmine, carnation and clove that tickles your nose from yards away. Daphne is grown for that fragrance above all; give it full winter sun and soil that drains, and it flowers from January to the end of March.

A fragrance of jasmine and spices, an abundant blooming from January to the end of March…  Daphne is the plant kingdom’s gift to us with its most extraordinary fragrance.

Exotic, powerful, very flowery with hints of carnation, jasmine and hyacinth with a dash of clove spice, it can tickle your nose from yards away!

Apart from its fragrance, this shrub also drapes itself in a ravishing blooming, an abundance which is quite rare at this time of the year.

Its gradient-like flowers with hues of white, pink and purple unfurl in uncountable numbers for many long weeks. Following the flower, a profusion of little brightly colored berries appears.

Planting Daphne

First of all, you should know that to bloom best, Daphne must be in full sun in winter. Pay attention to shade patterns over the seasons and mark a spot that gets full winter sun.

• It’s sometimes better to purchase a potted daphne that’s already blooming in winter, to make sure you like the color. Transplant it on a day that isn’t freezing.
• Daphne loves well-draining soil types. Go ahead and add river sand and soil mix to compacted garden soil.
• If possible, add fertilizer or compost.

Daphne, a welcoming scent

The best place for this shrub is clearly the front door of the house. Plant three specimens around your main door, or any other passageway so that you won’t miss its enchanting scents.

Pair it with heath, early-blooming bulbs (winter aconite, narcissus and botanical crocus).

When planted in conjunction with sparse ground cover plants, they’ll be protected against drought.

• Daphne roots resent disturbance, so plant the companion bulbs once and let them naturalise rather than lifting and replanting them around the shrub.
• A sheltered corner, porch or walled courtyard reduces air movement, so fragrance disperses more slowly and tends to linger noticeably longer there than in an open, breezy part of the garden.
• Avoid a spot under a gutter or downpipe where roof run-off keeps the soil sodden.

Keys to succeeding with daphne care

Purchase your daphne when it is blooming to be sure to buy the specimen that releases the most scent. Generally speaking, plants with darker flowers release a stronger scent than plants with light-colored flowers. Wait for the end of the blooming to settle it in the garden.

Daphne fears standing moisture, heavy, compact soil that suffocates roots, excessively strong heat and violent sun. It loves having its roots kept cool in summer. Mulching will help do this, as will the fact of watering often whenever the temperature hits 75°F (25°C) or more.

Pruning daphne

A slow grower, it is well suited to small gardens.

Apart from the occasional removal of dead and broken sprigs, it doesn’t require any pruning.

In fact, pruning too severely can even lead to the entire branch dying off, perhaps even the whole plant.

Best is to check how large a desired variety is expected to grow. That way, you can select a size that fits your space.

Daphne varieties

If you appreciate its fragrance, go for D. bholua which has a remarkable scent in winter.

Among the evergreen varieties, a favorite in our temperate climates is Daphne odora. It’s very ornamental, has lush green foliage, and resists cold weather particularly well. This is the one shown here.

The most common variety is certainly D. mezereum. It’s also known as mezereon and spurge olive, which it resembles. Leaves drop in winter, but it is covered in beautiful pink blooms in January-February.

• Bholua grows tall and upright rather than bushy, so leave it room beside a doorway or path where it will not have to be cut back.
• The Daphne odora usually sold is Aureomarginata, whose cream-edged leaves are easy to recognise and which is generally reckoned the tougher of the two.
• Daphne mezereum sets scarlet berries; all parts of the shrub are toxic, and because birds eat the fruit and disperse the seeds, volunteer seedlings often appear nearby.

Which daphne to choose

The three daphnes described above differ in foliage and in what they are grown for. Use this table to match a plant to the effect you want by the front door.

Whichever you pick, check how large the variety is expected to grow so that it fits the space available.

Be careful! Poisonous!

All types of daphne are poisonous. Only grow them in gardens where young children are always under supervision.

If sap touches skin, it may trigger allergic reactions. Wear gloves when handling daphne.

Daphne’s sap is toxic and can irritate skin, so wear gloves when pruning and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water afterwards, before touching your face or eating.

Smart tip about Daphne

No need to prune daphne, it doesn’t require trimming.