Daphnes are flowering shrubs that are much loved for their pretty clusters of flowers, beautiful scent and attractive foliage.
Many daphnes flower in winter, when their strong scent and (usually) evergreen foliage are particularly welcome. Not all daphnes are winter flowering, however – some flower in spring and summer, too.
As daphnes rarely grow very large, they’re perfect shrubs for a small garden. Grow in a large pot or in light, well-drained soil (some need chalk soil to thrive). They are woodland plants, so do best in dappled shade; if you can, plant them near a door, path or seating area where their scent can be appreciated. Daphnes can take a while to establish.
Winter-flowering daphnes
Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’
!["Daphne]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/18/2018/07/MG_8738-Daphne-bholua-Jacqueline-Postillv2-bd183b2.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Daphne")
An evergreen daphne cultivar with leathery, mid-green leaves that is strong growing once established. Large clusters of mauve-pink flowers cover the shrub for weeks from midwinter into early spring. The plant’s fragrance is powerful, sweet and delicious, even on cold days. This daphne was raised at Hillier Nurseries by propagator Alan Postill and named for his wife. Height 1.8m. AGM.
Buy Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ from Thompson & Morgan
Daphne mezereum f. alba
!["Daphne]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/18/2018/07/MG_8848-Daphne-mezereum-f-albav2-5a75a66.jpg?quality=90&crop=4px%2C1413px%2C2904px%2C1935px&resize=620%2C413" "\"Daphne")
A rare, deciduous daphne with upright stems and small, narrow green leaves. The starry, highly fragrant flowers cluster on stems in winter before the leaves appear, and are often followed by yellowish berries. This daphne needs chalk soil to thrive. Height 90cm.
Buy Daphne mezereum f. alba from Kevock Garden
Daphne odora Rebecca (= ‘Hewreb’)
!["Daphne]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/18/2018/07/MG_8835-Daphne-odora-Rebeccav2-41cc8bd.jpg?quality=90&crop=4px%2C562px%2C2904px%2C1935px&resize=620%2C413" "\"Daphne")
A surprisingly robust form of Daphne odora with green leaves, boldly edged with creamy gold. A showy foliage plant, it has the bonus of fragrant winter flowers. A better garden plant than previous cultivars with a similar variegation. Height 1m.
Buy Daphne odora ‘Rebecca’ from Thompson & Morgan
Daphne bholua ‘Darjeeling’
!["Daphne]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/18/2018/07/MG_8878-Daphne-bholua-Darjeelingv2-c128b9d.jpg?quality=90&crop=4px%2C552px%2C2904px%2C1935px&resize=620%2C413" "\"Daphne")
A semi-evergreen shrub with tan-coloured stems and pointed mid-green leaves. Clusters of fragrant, pale-pink flowers, which fade to white, appear from early winter. The original daphne variety was raised at RHS Garden Wisley from seed collected in Darjeeling. Height 1.8m.
Buy Daphne bholua ‘Darjeeling’ from Burncoose
Daphne bholua ‘Limpsfield’
!["Daphne]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/18/2018/07/MG_8686-Daphne-bholua-Limpsfieldv2-9633f4d.jpg?quality=90&crop=6px%2C1218px%2C2900px%2C1932px&resize=620%2C413" "\"Daphne")
This variety blooms from midwinter and is heavily fragrant; the rich purple-pink flower edges merge into white faces. A good evergreen daphne shrub to grow close to the house in a sheltered position. Height 1.8m.
Buy Daphne bholua ‘Limpsfield’ from Pan-Global Plants
Daphne bholua ‘Peter Smithers’
!["Daphne]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/18/2018/07/MG_8699-Daphne-bolua-Peter-Smithersv2-2e4e6ed.jpg?quality=90&crop=6px%2C962px%2C2900px%2C1932px&resize=620%2C413" "\"Daphne")
An evergreen or semi-evergreen daphne. In midwinter, clusters of deep, purple-pink buds open to paler blooms, which then become darker with age. This daphne variety was selected at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew’s Wakehurst site from seed collected by Sir Peter Smithers in Nepal. Height 1.8m.
Buy Daphne bholua ‘Peter Smithers’ from Pan-Global Plants
Spring and summer flowering daphnes
Daphne caucasica
!["Daphne]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/18/2018/07/MG_9549-Daphne-causcasiav2-e18ef61.jpg?quality=90&crop=4px%2C662px%2C2904px%2C1935px&resize=620%2C413" "\"Daphne")
A small, deciduous and rare daphne shrub which blooms from late spring well into summer and sometimes into autumn. The clusters of white daphne flowers are fragrant and often followed by yellow fruits. This daphne variety is best grown in dappled shade on moist, acid soil. Height 1.2m.
Daphne pontica
!["Daphne]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/18/2018/07/MG_9536-Daphne-ponticav2-70280b6.jpg?quality=90&crop=4px%2C672px%2C2904px%2C1935px&resize=620%2C413" "\"Daphne")
A small, spreading, evergreen shrub that is happiest under the light shade of trees and tolerant of heavy clay soils. Glossy green leaves show off the large clusters of fragrant, yellow-green flowers that are produced freely all over this daphne in late spring. Height 60cm.
Buy Daphne pontica from Ashwood Nurseries
Daphne x burkwoodii ‘Astrid’
!["Daphne]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/18/2018/07/MG_9700-Daphne-x-burkwoodii-Astridv2-c147aca.jpg?quality=90&crop=6px%2C1066px%2C2900px%2C1932px&resize=620%2C413" "\"Daphne")
A rounded, bushy daphne shrub with narrow, blue-green leaves that are finely edged with creamy yellow. Clusters of fragrant, pink flowers appear from late spring through to midsummer. A good shrub for foliage interest. 60cm.
Buy Daphne x burkwoodii ‘Astrid’ from Jacksons Nurseries
Daphne cneorum
!["Daphne]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/18/2018/07/MG_9569-Daphne-cneorumv2-b3a1844.jpg?quality=90&crop=7px%2C1219px%2C2899px%2C1931px&resize=620%2C413" "\"Daphne")
A dwarf daphne shrub with prostrate branches and narrow evergreen leaves. The large clusters of sweetly fragrant, pink flowers appear in mid to late spring. Often tricky to establish, this daphne variety needs a sheltered, open situation on chalk soil. Height 15cm.
Buy Daphne cneorum from Gardening Express
Daphne x burkwoodii ‘Lavenirii’
!["Daphne]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/18/2018/07/MG_9603-Daphne-x-burkwoodii-Laveniriiv2-4c5687c.jpg?quality=90&crop=4px%2C762px%2C2904px%2C1935px&resize=620%2C413" "\"Daphne")
A cross between Daphne cneorum and Daphne caucasica that was raised in France in 1920. This rare daphne has clusters of extremely fragrant, pale-pink flowers, darker in the centres, from late spring well into summer. A spreading daphne shrub, it grows best on alkaline soil. Height 60cm.
Daphne x rollsdorfii ‘Wilhelm Schacht’
!["Daphne]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/18/2018/07/MG_9514-Daphne-rolsdorfiiv2-ac2ae2d.jpg?quality=90&crop=7px%2C1219px%2C2899px%2C1931px&resize=620%2C413" "\"Daphne")
A daphne variety that’s bushy and upright in habit with glossy, evergreen leaves. This small shrub has particularly showy clusters of highly fragrant, purple-pink daphne flowers in mid-spring. Grows on alkaline or acid soil. Height 45cm. AGM.
Buy Daphne x rollsdorfii ‘Wilhelm Schacht’from Ashwood Nurseries
Where to buy daphne
- Junkers Nursery Ltd, Higher Cobhay, Milverton Somerset TA4 1NJ. junker.co.uk
- Larch Cottage Nurseries, Melkinthorpe, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 2DR. larchcottage.co.uk
- Pan-Global Plants, The Walled Garden, Frampton Court, Frampton-on-Severn, Gloucestershire GL2 7EX. panglobalplants.com