Garland Flower Plant Care

Daphne cneorum L.

Updated · Sources · How we source care data

Daphne cneorum, the rose daphne or garland flower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Thymelaeaceae, native across the mountains of central and southern Europe from the Pyrenees east through the Alps, the Apennine, Carpathian and the Balkan Peninsula mountains, and locally in lowlands further north and east to Ukraine and westernmost Russia. It is a prostrate spreading evergreen shrub growing to 50 cm (20 in) high, with downy stems bearing oblanceolate to spatulate, hairless, evergreen leaves 10–20 mm long and 3–5 mm wide, and highly fragrant pink flowers in dense clusters of 6–8 together in spring.

🌿Shrubs
Water

Every 7–14 days

Light

Partial shade to full sun

Temp

50–75°F

Humidity

40–60%

At a glance

How do you care for Garland Flower?

Plant Garland Flower in partial shade to full sun (USDA zones 12a) and water a young shrub every 7–14 days until it is established. It tolerates temperatures of 50–75°F (10–24°C). Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season. It is reported as toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of pets.

What Is the Garland Flower?

Garland Flower (Daphne cneorum) belongs to the Thymelaeaceae family within the Daphne genus. Garland Flower is also known as Rose Daphne, Daphne.

Garland Flower displays a compact, rounded shrub growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. Garland Flower produces fragrant clusters of small tubular flowers in white, pink, or lavender.

Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.

How Often Should You Water a Garland Flower?

Water a young or newly planted Garland Flower every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Watering Frequency

Every 7–14 days

Until established; then in dry spells

What Light Does the Garland Flower Need?

Garland Flower thrives in partial shade to full sun.

Light Requirement

Partial shade to full sun

What Temperature and Humidity Does the Garland Flower Prefer?

Daphne cneorum tolerates temperatures of 50–75°F. Garland Flower prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Temperature

50–75°F

Humidity

40–60%

What Soil Mix Works Best for a Garland Flower?

Well-draining, slightly acidic soil with added organic matter like compost or peat moss. Good drainage is essential for Garland Flower to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

How Often Should You Fertilize a Garland Flower?

Feed Garland Flower every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

Fertilizing

Every 6 months

During the growing season

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Where Should You Plant a Garland Flower?

Choose a spot with partial shade to full sun and well-draining, slightly acidic soil with added organic matter like compost or peat moss. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Garland Flower is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

How Far Apart Should You Plant a Garland Flower?

Garland Flower can spread to about 3 ft (0.9 m) and reach about 3 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 3 ft (0.9 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

How Do You Prune a Garland Flower?

Prune Garland Flower while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

How Do You Care for a Garland Flower in Winter?

Garland Flower is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

How Do You Propagate a Garland Flower?

Garland Flower can be propagated through softwood cuttings, layering.

Is the Garland Flower Toxic to Pets and Children?

Toxic (caution)

Reported as toxic in our plant data. Not verified by the ASPCA.

Toxic to humans and pets if ingested

This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

What Pests and Diseases Affect the Garland Flower?

Garland Flower is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Garland Flower Need?

Garland Flower grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Garland Flower as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.

Hardiness Zone

Zone 12a

Keep exploring plants

Garland Flower is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.

It belongs to the Daphne genus — compare its care with other Daphne species on PlantoScan.

Daphne is part of the Thymelaeaceae plant family — browse all Thymelaeaceae genera and species.

Garland Flower thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.

Related Plant Care Guides

Closely related plants with similar care requirements:

Sources

  • Scientific name & taxonomy: Daphne cneorum L., family Thymelaeaceae (first published in Sp. Pl. : 357 (1753)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
  • Pet toxicity: Garland Flower is reported as toxic to pets in our plant data (not verified by the ASPCA), so treat it with caution. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
  • Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
  • Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.

Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.

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