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Daphnes are colourful shrubs, usually blooming in late winter and early spring, though a few bloom in summer.
They’re fantastic plants for small gardens, with various types perfect for different situations, such as in window boxes, large containers, mixed borders, areas of dry shade and gravel gardens. There are both evergreen and deciduous varieties.
Most daphnes bear clusters of small flowers in shades of red or pink and sometimes white or green. These flowers usually open at the end of shoot tips, but on some daphnes you’ll spot them in the leaf joints.
How to grow daphnes
Generally, daphnes need a combination of good moisture and good drainage to thrive. Some varieties develop drought tolerance as they mature.
More about scented plants:
Browse our choice of beautiful daphnes, below.
‘Jaqueline Postill’ is one of the best known daphnes, bearing small pink flowers that are packed with fragrance, in late winter.
Height x spread: 2m x 1.5m.
A dwarf form of the native species with scented flowers, it grows best in moisture retentive soil and partial shade.
H x S: 50cm x 50cm.
‘Pink Fragrance’ is a prolific, strongly scented evergreen daphne, bearing pink flowers from April to October. Not as drought tolerant as other varieties, it will suffer in summer droughts.
H x S: 90cm x 90cm.
This variety has evergreen leaves edged in cream, blooming in early spring. Surprisingly for a variegated cultivar, it’s hardier than the plain green form.
H x S: 1.5m x 1.5m.
A richly coloured form of the deciduous British native. Flowers appear in February and March, followed by red berries.
H x S: 1.2m x 1.2m.
‘Darjeeling’ is the earliest to open of these incredibly frgrant evergreens, bearing blushed white blooms from November to February. Needs moist summer soil.
Height x spread: 3m x 1.5m.
