Daphne Plant Care

Daphne (Daphne mucronata) belongs to the Thymelaeaceae family within the Daphne genus. Daphne is native to western Asia, ranging from eastern Turkey to the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the western Himalayas.

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

Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Daphne 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.

Daphne thrives in partial shade to full sun.

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

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

Feed Daphne 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.

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

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.

Daphne is suited to USDA Zone 6a – 9b.

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.

Daphne 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.

Prune Daphne 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.

Daphne is hardy down to USDA zone 6a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Daphne can be propagated through softwood cuttings, layering. Similar propagation techniques also apply to mezereon plant care, which shares the same genus.

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

Daphne 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.

Daphne grows outdoors in USDA Zone 6a – 9b. It survives winters down to planting zone 6a. Daphne is native to western Asia, ranging from eastern Turkey to the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the western Himalayas.