Mezereon (February daphne)

Sun

Partial shade or full sun in cool climates; shelter from hot afternoon sun.

Water

Keep evenly moist but never waterlogged; water during dry spells, especially while establishing.

Soil

Humus-rich, well-drained soil, preferably neutral to alkaline; avoid heavy, wet ground.

Height

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m)

Spread

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m)

Flowers

Late winter to early spring, depending on climate; strongly fragrant pink-purple flowers, occasionally white, along bare stems.

Foliage

Narrow, soft green leaves clustered toward shoot tips; deciduous.

Growth

Slow

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Cold hardy
• Wildlife
• 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

   1.9 ft (0.59 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.2 ft (0.68 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.5 ft (0.76 m)

5. After 5 years

   3 ft (0.94 m)

About 8 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

Native to

the UK

Invasive in

the US and Canada

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant a small, container-grown specimen in its permanent position; established plants resent moving.
• Water deeply during dry spells without leaving the root zone saturated.
• Apply a light mulch of leaf mould or compost in spring, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Avoid digging around the shallow roots or applying heavy fertiliser.
• Wear gloves when handling or pruning, and keep berries away from children and pets.

Pruning. Prune as little as possible. Immediately after flowering, remove dead or damaged wood and only lightly shorten an awkward shoot; avoid hard renovation pruning.

Early autumn

Plant in well-drained soil while the ground is moist, choosing a permanent position.

Late winter

Check drainage around the plant and enjoy the flowers without cutting substantial branches.

Spring

After flowering, remove dead or damaged growth and apply a light organic mulch.

Summer

Water during prolonged dry weather, especially during the first two growing seasons.

Summer

Remove developing berries with gloves if children or pets could reach them, and dispose of them securely.

Autumn

Check nearby ground for unwanted seedlings, particularly where the plant has naturalised locally.

• Place within scenting distance of a quiet path, but beyond easy reach of children and pets.
• Use as a small focal shrub at a lightly shaded woodland edge.
• Underplant with snowdrops and winter aconites for flowers beneath its bare, scented stems.
• Set against dark evergreen foliage to make the early flowers stand out.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Cottage garden, English country, Traditional, Winter interest and Sensory garden.

Plant it with: Snowdrops, Winter aconites, Hellebores, Hardy cyclamen and Lungwort.

Wildlife: Early flowers provide nectar and pollen for insects active in mild weather. Birds eat the berries and can spread the seeds into surrounding woodland.

• Root and crown rot in wet soil: improve drainage before planting, keep mulch away from the crown and avoid overwatering.
• Aphids on new shoots: wash off small colonies with water and encourage natural predators.
• Leaf spots: remove affected fallen leaves and improve air circulation without heavy pruning.
• Sudden dieback or collapse: daphnes can fail abruptly, especially after root disturbance or drainage problems; remove dead growth and replace a collapsed plant rather than trying hard pruning.

Highly poisonous to people, cats, dogs and horses. All parts are toxic, especially the berries and bark; ingestion can cause severe mouth irritation, vomiting, diarrhoea and potentially life-threatening poisoning. Sap can irritate or blister skin. Seek urgent medical or veterinary advice after ingestion.

Where it spreads. Naturalised and locally invasive in parts of northeastern North America, including Maine and Ontario, where bird-sown seedlings can establish in woodland. Check local invasive-plant guidance before planting.

• Winter daphne (Daphne odora)

  Evergreen, with leathery leaves and rounded flower clusters at shoot tips; mezereon loses its leaves and flowers along bare stems.

• Spurge laurel (Daphne laureola)

  Has evergreen, glossy leaves, small yellow-green flowers and black berries rather than mezereon's usually pink-purple flowers and red berries.

Daphne comes from the Greek word for laurel, referring to the laurel-like leaves of some members of the genus.

Propagation. Sow freshly ripe seed outdoors in a protected pot; germination can be slow and irregular. Semi-ripe cuttings are possible but often difficult to root. Wear gloves when handling fruit and seeds.

Accepted botanical name

Daphne mezereum

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Albania, Altay, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Central European Rus, Czechoslovakia, East European Russia, Finland and France.

Measured

Soil pH 7 to 7.5. Average height 70 cm.

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