Daphne cneorum
Rose Daphne, Garland Flower
Thymelaeaceae
ExpandHabitat
- native to Europe
- hardy to zone 4
Habit and Form
- a small, evergreen shrub
- 6" to 12" tall
- width at least twice the height
- long prostrate branches
- slow growth rate
- medium texture
Summer Foliage
- alternate arranged leaves
- simple, evergreen leaves
- leaves are up to 1" long and very narrow
- oblanceolate leaf shape
- cuneate leaf margin
- dark green leaf color
- glaucous underside
Autumn Foliage
- no fall color, evergreen
Flowers
- bright pink flowers
- 0.5" across
- fragrant
- blooms in April and sporadic in summer
- flowers are clustered in umbels
Fruit
- brown drupe
- rarely fruits
- not ornamentally important
Bark
- somewhat squared stems
- reddish brown in color
Culture
- transplant from containers
- prefers well-drained, moist, pH neutral soil
- shade
- prune after flowering
Landscape Use
- for fragrance
- groundcover
- rock garden
- for flowering effect
Liabilities
- leaf spot
- crown rots
- cankers
ID Features
- crescent shape leaf scar
- sessile buds with 4 to 6 exposed scales
- evergreen, narrow leaves
- alternate leaf arrangement
- pink flowers
- prostrate growth
Propagation
- by cuttings
- by seed
Cultivars/Varieties
'Alba' - This form is more dwarf in stature and bears white blooms.
'Eximia' - This is an attractive deep pink-flowered selection with slightly larger blooms and leaves.
'Pygmaea' and 'Pygmaea Alba' - These are prostrate forms with smaller leaves and mature sizes, the former bearing white blooms.
'Ruby Glow' - This cultivar only reaches 1' tall and offers dark pink blooms.
'Variegata' (also seen as 'Albomarginata') - This form is very strong-growing for a variegated plant, as the fine-textured, small leaves are edged with white. Other traits are as per the species.