Daphne caucasica

• BOTANICAL NAME: Daphne caucasica
• PRONUNCIATION: DAFF-ne kaw-KAW-za-kuh
• COMMON NAME: Caucasian Daphne
• FAMILY: Thymelaeaceae
• NATIVITY: Caucasus
• GROWTH HABIT: Small rounded shrub.
• SIZE: 3-4' (6') tall
• HARDINESS: Zone 6-8
• CULTURE: Sun to light shade with adequate soil moisture. Light shade in the winter is beneficial. (The north side of a building works well.) Soils should be loose, moist, well drained and near neutral pH. Supposedly Daphne is harder to grow than Kalmia or visa versa. I think Daphne wins as the most difficult!
• LANDSCAPE USE: Specimen plants that are short lived. Also grown in rockeries.
• FOLIAGE: Alternate, oblanceolate, entire, 1-1 3/4". Green above and glacous beneath.
• FLOWERS: Clustered at the end of branches, white, nicely fragrant. Flowers are most abundant in May and June but substantial flowering occurs throughout the summer and up to frost.
• FRUIT: Drupe, yellow brown.
• PROPAGATION: Cuttings, seed.
• PESTS: Virus may account for sudden, unexplained death of plants.