Fragrant daphne is a woody, densely-branched, broadleaf evergreen shrub that can grow to be 2 to 4 feet wide and 4 to 6 1/2 feet tall. A member of the Thymelaeaceae (daphne) family, daphne is native to southern China, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Daphne should be planted in sun to part shade, in moist, very well-drained soil that can dry out between waterings. It is moderately salt-tolerant. Cut it back after flowering to avoid leggy growth. Though the plants often last only three or four years they are easy to propagate from stem cuttings. Showy, deeply fragrant flowers in pink, lavender, or white appear in mid-to-late winter before the glossy leaves. Red or black fruits are sometimes present rounding out year-round interest with this shrub. This plant works well in a woodland or in a container, as a specimen, or along a foundation plant. It is equally at home in a butterfly, pollinator, or winter garden. Quick ID Hints: Leaves are coriaceous, alternate, crowded, look whorled Evergreen shrub has shiny dark green leaves Fragrant terminal 1 inch cymes in winter Salverform, cream to purplish flowers with four lobes Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
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.
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
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 6 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Mounding; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Cuneate; Elliptical; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf value
Long-lasting
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Alternate, simple, leathery, shiny, dark green leaves; 2-3" long; pointed and tapered at each end. Elliptic-oblong, acute, cuneate, entire, coriaceous, shiny.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Cyme
Flower detail
Rosy purple buds open rose pink; flowers in late winter to early spring; fragrant. A cyme, terminal, to 1". (5-10) creamy white to purplish, fragrant, salverform, to 1/4"; calyx a cylindrical fleshy tube with 4 spreading lobes; petals 0.
Bloom time
Spring; Winter
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit detail
Seldom produces fruit. A fleshy drupe, red.
Stem detail
Few, erect.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
South China to Vietnam and Taiwan
Wildlife value
Bees are attracted to the nectar and pollen and butterflies, moths, and flies are attracted to the nectar in this winter flowering shrub.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Moths; Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Drupe
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Woodland
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Garden for the Blind; Pollinator Garden; Winter Garden