Daphne
Daphne odora
Family: Thymelaeaceae · Also called Winter Daphne, Fragrant Daphne, Ruìxiāng, Daphne odora var. rubra, Daphne mazelii, Daphne odora var. variegata
Floral · Winter–Spring bloomer
Daphne is the holy grail of winter fragrance, tight clusters of starry pink-and-white flowers on a compact evergreen shrub that releases what many consider the single finest scent in the plant kingdom. In late winter, when you least expect it, waves of intense, sweet perfume stop you mid-step and make you search for the source.
sweetness, desire, glory
In the Victorian language of flowers, daphne means “Desire to please, glory, immortality”. Named after the Greek nymph Daphne who was turned into a laurel tree to escape Apollo, though the plant is unrelated to laurel. In China, it's called 'ruìxiāng' (auspicious fragrance). Daphne odora is both loved for its incredible scent and dreaded for its tendency to die suddenly without warning, there's a gardening saying: 'happy one day, dead the next.'
Did You Know?
Daphne odora is legendary for dying suddenly, a healthy, well-established plant can simply collapse overnight. The cause is usually a root pathogen (Phytophthora) triggered by waterlogging. All parts are toxic. Despite this unreliability, gardeners keep planting it because nothing else matches the fragrance. The variegated form 'Aureomarginata' is more vigorous than the plain green type.
Mountain woodland and scrub in eastern Asia
Daphne is native to China, Japan. It naturally grows in mountain woodland and scrub in eastern asia.
Scent Profile
“One of the most intoxicating fragrances in all of horticulture, an intense, complex sweetness combining citrus, spice, and jasmine that can perfume an entire garden from a single small plant. Strongest in cold still air.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameDaphne odora
- FamilyThymelaeaceae
- Native ToChina, Japan
- Bloom SeasonWinter–Spring
- LifespanPerennial
Cultural Significance
Named after the Greek nymph Daphne who was turned into a laurel tree to escape Apollo, though the plant is unrelated to laurel. In China, it's called 'ruìxiāng' (auspicious fragrance). Daphne odora is both loved for its incredible scent and dreaded for its tendency to die suddenly without warning, there's a gardening saying: 'happy one day, dead the next.'