Vibrant Daphne Providing Constant Hue and Fragrant Aroma Year-Round

In the world of horticulture, few plants captivate the senses quite like the Daphne shrubs. These enchanting beauties, with their delicate fragrance and striking blooms, have been cultivated for centuries for both ornamental and medicinal purposes.

One of the rarest and most captivating Daphnes is Daphne x burkwoodii 'Lavenirii'. This shrub boasts clusters of extremely fragrant, pale-pink flowers, darker in the centers, from late spring well into summer. It thrives best on alkaline soil and reaches a height of 60cm.

Another noteworthy Daphne is Daphne odora 'Rebecca', a robust form of the species with green leaves edged in creamy gold, showy foliage, and fragrant winter flowers. It grows to a height of 1m.

For those seeking a taller option, Daphne bholua 'Peter Smithers' might be the perfect choice. This evergreen or semi-evergreen daphne offers deep, purple-pink buds that open to paler blooms, which then become darker with age. It grows to a majestic 1.8m.

Daphne bholua 'Limpsfield' is another evergreen daphne that blooms from midwinter, offering rich purple-pink flower edges that merge into white faces. It is an excellent choice for growing close to the house in a sheltered position and also reaches a height of 1.8m.

The small, spreading Daphne pontica is happiest under the light shade of trees and tolerant of heavy clay soils. It produces large clusters of fragrant, yellow-green flowers in late spring and grows to a height of 60cm.

While the exact time of the initial cultivation of Daphnes is not extensively documented, it is known that Daphne species have been known and used traditionally for centuries.

The deciduous and rare Daphne caucasica blooms from late spring well into summer and sometimes into autumn. It has clusters of white daphne flowers that are fragrant and often followed by yellow fruits. It grows best in dappled shade on moist, acid soil and reaches a height of 1.2m.

Daphne x rollsdorfii 'Wilhelm Schacht' is a bushy and upright in habit daphne with glossy, evergreen leaves. It produces particularly showy clusters of highly fragrant, purple-pink daphne flowers in mid-spring. It grows on alkaline or acid soil and reaches a height of 45cm.

For those seeking a dwarf daphne, Daphne cneorum is an excellent choice. With prostrate branches and narrow evergreen leaves, it produces large clusters of sweetly fragrant, pink flowers in mid to late spring. It needs a sheltered, open situation on chalk soil and grows to a height of 15cm.

Lastly, Daphne bholua 'Darjeeling' offers tan-colored stems, mid-green leaves, and clusters of fragrant pale-pink flowers that fade to white. It grows to a height of 1.8m.

Daphne x burkwoodii 'Astrid' is a rounded, bushy daphne shrub with narrow, blue-green leaves that are finely edged with creamy yellow. It produces clusters of fragrant, pink flowers from late spring through to midsummer and grows to a height of 60cm.

These Daphne shrubs, with their diverse sizes, colours, and blooming seasons, are a delightful addition to any garden, offering a fragrant symphony that delights the senses and adds a touch of elegance to any outdoor space.