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Shrubs

Daphne papyracea

Indian paper tree

An evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub, to around 1.5m high, with elliptic to lance-shaped, thinly leathery dark green leaves. Clusters of white flowers, sometimes flushed with pink, are borne at the tips of the stems in winter and early spring, followed by oval-shaped red fruits

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–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 or Semi 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

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in deep, fertile, evenly moist, preferably neutral soils; will not tolerate drought or waterlogging. Mulch to keep roots cool. Plants resent transplanting. See daphne cultivation for more details

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings in summer, or by grafting in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

See pruning groups 1 and 8; 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

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