Daphne Shrub Varieties

Rose Daphnes

• Rose daphne (Daphne cneorum) is a European plant that is evergreen and short, maturing only between 6 and 12 inches. Suitable for USDA zone 4 and warmer areas, the parent species produces brilliant pink April flowers, with the flowers blooming off and on during summer. Cultivar varieties include Alba, which has white flowers, while the flowers and foliage of Eximia are larger compared to those of the parent plant. Other forms of rose daphne are Ruby Glow, named for its dark pink flowering effect, and Variegata, a form with green and white leaves.

Fragrant Daphne

• The evergreen, leathery foliage of the fragrant daphne (Daphne odora) is dark green and shiny. Growing to 4 feet high, fragrant daphne has the nickname of winter daphne, because it blooms late in winter or just at spring's beginning in USDA zones 7 through 9. This shrub has aromatic rose pink flowers but is not a long-lived variety. Variegata is a cultivar that has yellow edges to its green leaves. Its flowers start out pink, but slowly change to white.

Hybrid Daphnes

• Lawrence Crocker is a hybrid variety of daphne appropriate for your rock garden or foundations, growing just a foot tall. Lawrence Crocker works between USDA zones 6 and 9, with pink flowers during the end of spring. Burkwood daphne is the product of crossing rose daphne with Caucasian daphne. Hardy to zone 4, Burkwood daphne has strongly perfumed flowers. Varieties of this hybrid include Carol Mackie, featuring leaves with cream white edges. Burkwood daphnes typically grow no taller than 4 feet.

More Daphne Varieties

• Hardy between USDA zones 5 and 7, Caucasian daphne (Daphne caucasia) grows to 5 feet and has use as a foundation plant because of its inclination to grow in the shade. It develops white June flowers that result in berries suitable for birds to devour. Lilac daphne (Daphne genkwa) has attractive clusters of lilac-shaded flowers emerge from the end of its twigs in June and July. This variety of daphne grows between zones 5 and 7 to 4 feet tall. It features thin, erect stems.