Daphniphyllum macropodum Play pronunciation

Daphniphyllum is an understory, broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree with a rounded, dense, or haystack habit, measuring 15 to 25 feet tall and equally as wide. This plant is native to China, Korea, and Japan. It has dark green, leathery, oblong leaves with purplish red petioles. This plant is dioecious, meaning the male and female flowers occur on separate shrubs. The flowers are non-showy; the male shrub has purplish-pink flowers, while the female has pale green flowers, blooming from May to June. The female produces small, showy, bluish-black drupes in the fall. The genus name, Daphniphyllum,  originates from the genus name Daphne, and phyllum means leaf. The specific epithet, macropodum, is derived from the Latin word macro, meaning large, and the Greek word, podos, meaning "stalk." This broadleaf evergreen is a member of the Daphniphyllaceae family. 

Thrives in partial shade and requires soil that is moist, well-drained, slightly acidic, and rich in organic matter. It is hardy in USDA Zones 7 to 9. If planted in full sun, afternoon shade is needed to protect the leaves. and it is also does best in a sheltered location to prevent winter damage. For the female shrub to produce fruit, a male shrub would need to be planted close by.

The leaves are arranged in a spiral or whorled pattern at the stem's end, very similar to rhododendrons. The leaves are leathery, glossy, and 5 to 10 inches long and 1 to 3 inches wide. The flowers are apetalous blooms, arranged in racemes, and emerge from the leaf axils. If pollinated, the female will produce fruit.

Recommended as an ornamental evergreen shrub for an informal hedge, small groups, borders, and foundation plantings. To produce fruits, a male and female specimen are needed. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious insect or disease issues. If planted in full sun, it requires afternoon shade to prevent leaf scorch.

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology,” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.