Daphne odora
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Daphne chinensis
- Daphne japonica
- Daphne sinensis
- Phonetic Spelling
- DAF-nee oh-DOH-rah
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
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.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Deck Planting
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Aureomarginata'
Leaves variegated with creamy yellow margins; flowers pale pink. - 'Maejima'
Yellow variegated leaves pink flowers
'Marginata'
- 'Shinano Nishiki'
Three colored variegated leaves, pale pink flowers - 'Variegata'
Yellow leaf margins
Variegated leaves - 'Aureomarginata'
- 'Aureomarginata', 'Maejima', 'Marginata', 'Shinano Nishiki', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aureomarginata'
Leaves variegated with creamy yellow margins; flowers pale pink. - 'Maejima'
Yellow variegated leaves pink flowers
'Marginata'
- 'Shinano Nishiki'
Three colored variegated leaves, pale pink flowers - 'Variegata'
Yellow leaf margins
Variegated leaves - 'Aureomarginata'
- 'Aureomarginata', 'Maejima', 'Marginata', 'Shinano Nishiki', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Daphne
- Species:
- odora
- Family:
- Thymelaeaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of 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.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Moderately salt tolerant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Mounding
- Rounded
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- 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:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Description:
- Seldom produces fruit. A fleshy drupe, red.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Description:
- 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.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cuneate
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, leathery, shiny, dark green leaves; 2-3" long; pointed and tapered at each end. Elliptic-oblong, acute, cuneate, entire, coriaceous, shiny.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Few, erect.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Foundation Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Salt
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
