Eternal Fragrance daphne

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; give it afternoon shade in hot climates.

Water

Moderate; keep the root zone evenly moist but never waterlogged, especially while establishing.

Soil

Well-drained, humus-rich soil, slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. Avoid heavy, wet ground and very dry, shallow soil.

Height

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Flowers

Pink buds open to white or pale pink flowers in spring, with repeat flushes through summer and often into autumn.

Foliage

Small, narrow, leathery green leaves; evergreen in mild climates and semi-evergreen or deciduous near its cold limit.

Growth

Slow to moderate

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen
• Fragrant

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.8 ft (0.54 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.9 ft (0.58 m)

4. After 3 years

   2 ft (0.62 m)

5. After 5 years

   2.3 ft (0.69 m)

About 7 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant with the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil; choose the position carefully because established plants resent moving.
• Water deeply during dry spells, allowing excess water to drain away before watering again.
• Apply 2 in (5 cm) of leaf mould or composted bark over the root zone, keeping it clear of the stems.
• In spring, feed lightly with a balanced slow-release fertiliser if growth is weak; avoid heavy feeding.
• Avoid digging around the roots, and provide shelter from cold, drying winds.

Pruning. Little pruning is needed. After the main spring flowering, lightly shorten stray shoots if necessary and remove dead wood; do not cut hard into old, leafless stems.

Spring

Plant once the soil is workable, watering the root ball thoroughly and avoiding root disturbance.

Spring

Refresh the mulch and give a light feed only if needed.

Late spring

After the main flowering flush, trim only misplaced shoots.

Summer

Check soil moisture during dry weather and water deeply before the root ball dries out.

Autumn

Check that water drains freely around the plant and remove fallen leaves that pack against its base.

Winter

Protect exposed plants from drying winds; avoid pruning foliage that may simply be winter-damaged until spring.

• Place beside a path, entrance or seating area where you can enjoy the scent without brushing against the shrub.
• Use at the front of a mixed border with low perennials that leave its root zone undisturbed.
• Plant among small evergreens for a compact, year-round framework with seasonal flowers.
• Grow in a large, freely draining container in a sheltered courtyard, with regular attention to watering and winter root protection.

Garden styles it suits: English country, Cottage garden, Modern courtyard, Sensory garden, Small-space and White garden.

Plant it with: Hellebores, Epimediums, Hardy geraniums, Japanese forest grass, Snowdrops and Heucheras.

Wildlife: The fragrant flowers provide nectar for bees and other visiting insects over a long flowering season.

• Root rot and sudden collapse: avoid waterlogged soil, planting too deeply and frequent watering of already-wet ground; badly affected plants rarely recover.
• Yellow leaves and poor growth: check drainage and soil moisture before feeding, since both drought and damaged roots can cause these symptoms.
• Aphids on young shoots: wash off small colonies with water and encourage ladybirds and other predators.
• Winter leaf scorch or leaf drop: shelter from cold winds and keep the soil moderately moist; wait for spring growth before removing apparently damaged shoots.

Toxic to people, cats, dogs and horses if eaten. All parts should be treated as poisonous, especially the bark and any berries; ingestion can cause severe mouth irritation, vomiting and diarrhoea, and larger amounts can cause serious poisoning. Sap may irritate skin, so wear gloves when pruning.

• Winter daphne (Daphne odora)

  Usually has broader, glossier leaves and a concentrated flowering season in late winter or early spring, rather than repeated flowering through summer.

• Burkwood daphne (Daphne × burkwoodii)

  Often forms a larger, more open shrub with a main late-spring flowering flush; common cultivars such as 'Carol Mackie' have cream-edged leaves.

Daphne comes from the Greek word for laurel, referring to the resemblance of its leaves to those of true laurels.

Propagation. Usually propagated from semi-ripe cuttings in summer, though rooting can be slow and unreliable. Seed will not reliably reproduce the cultivar. Check local plant breeders' rights or patent restrictions before propagating it.

Accepted botanical name

Daphne transatlantica

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.