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Shrubs

Daphne oleoides

olive-leaved daphne

A dwarf evergreen shrub ofvariable habit, usually under 60cm tall, forming low hummocks. Leaves are almost stalkless, squareish and bristle-tipped, glossy above and downy below when young. Flowers are white, cream or yellowish, sometimes pink tipped, borne in terminal clusters in late spring and early summer, scented. Fruits are orange-red

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full shade
Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

North–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Thymelaeaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: TOXIC if eaten, skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling TOXIC to pets - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Daphne can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs with small, usually very fragrant tubular, 4-lobed flowers, often followed by colourful berries
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Europe to Himalaya

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, humus-rich, well-drained but not dry soil in sun or part shade; tolerant of deep shade. Mulch to keep roots cool. Will not tolerate root disturbance and so resents transplanting

Propagation

Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe. Propagate by greenwood or softwood cuttings from spring to early summer and semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Rock garden
Coastal
Gravel garden
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds
Banks and slopes

Pruning

Pruning group 1 if necessary but pruning is best kept to a minimum

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), phytophthora root rot, fungal leaf spot and virus diseases

Get involved

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