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Carole Mackie Daphne

Daphne (DAF-nee berk-WOOD-ee-eye KA-rel MAK-e)

Family: Thymelaeaceae Unknown Shrub (3-15 ft)

'Carole Mackie' daphne is a variegated variety that grows 3-4 feet tall and wide with variegated leaves that grow in a whorled pattern. The very fragrant showy flowers appear mid-spring in clusters and may bloom lightly again in the fall. The foliage stays attractive through early winter and is semi to evergreen in its warmer growing zones. Daphnes can be finicky to grow so make sure you can meet their requirements before purchasing. This plant does best in light to partial shade and soil must be moist but very well-drained. Do not over-fertilize or over water and site in a protected area from cold winds. Daphnes will not survive transplanting so choose your site carefully. Do not prune except to remove dead branches. They can be relatively short-lived. Place this plant where the fragrance can be enjoyed. Its size makes it a good choice for small space, foundation plantings, slopes or borders. Plant where pets can't get to the poisonous berries. More information on Daphne x burkwoodii .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 49 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Abelia x grandiflora Abelia x grandiflora 'Sunrise' Zabelia tyaihyoni

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Mounding; Multi-stemmed; Rounded
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Gray/Silver; Green; Variegated
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Whorled
Leaf shape
Oblong
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
2 inch long narrow gray-green leaves with gold margins that mature to creamy-white and grow in whorls
Flower color
Pink
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Cup; Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Clusters of very fragrant, light pink flowers in the spring
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Small red fruits in fall
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Drupe
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Slope/Bank; Small Space; Walkways
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Garden for the Blind
Design feature
Border; Foundation Planting
Garden tags
#evergreen #small shrub #semi-evergreen #pink flowers #fragrant flowers #partial shade tolerant #difficult to grow #variegated
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Short-lived

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.