Winter daphne

Daphne odora

Evergreen shrub with intensely fragrant pink-budded white flower clusters in late winter and early spring. One of the most powerfully scented winter-flowering shrubs.

Hardiness ratings

Winter daphne hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 7–9 −17.8 °C to −1.1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H4 −10 °C to −5 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 7–9 −12 °C and warmer Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 2–5 −10 °C to 10 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Flowers February–April depending on climate — a classic winter fragrance plant for milder gardens
  • WARNING: All parts toxic — sap can irritate skin, do not plant where children handle stems
  • Site in dappled shade with shelter from drying winds — leaf scorch is common in exposed positions
  • Notoriously prone to sudden dieback for no obvious reason — accept this as part of the plant

Pet caution: Winter daphne is listed as potentially harmful to cats and/or dogs. Keep pets from grazing on it, and contact a vet if you suspect your animal has eaten some.

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Winter daphne against your zones

Reference

Winter daphne on Wikipedia