Officially, its called Daphne odora marginata (I STILL haven't figured out how to link to the database, but since one of the pics there is one I added. . .


This small bush is an evergreen, so it's pretty year round! Its leaves are variegated dark green with a creamy white edge; beginning in the fall, tips hold pinkish-red buds that get darker and larger over time. It's In the early, early "spring" (last of Feb with snow still on the ground) the engorged little pinkish-red buds open to be clusters of pinkish-white florets that give off a heady perfume that lasts about a month.

Go to the database , find the plant, click on on of the photos, find the DB code

, easy peasy.

Pretty plant

I can almost smell the scent of it just reading your description BetNC. What a love shrub.

I find this shrub to be a challenge, but I keep it simply for that wonderful early fragrance. For me, it gets ratty during the summer, often dropping leaves and generally looking sickly. It has an unkempt growth habit that is hard for me to prune. But, wow, what a great smell! So, we co-exist in peace.

Oh what a beautiful plant, love those pretty blooms and fragrance must be a big bonus ... wish it grew in my area!

I first saw winter daphne when I went to Pine Knot Farms for their winter hellebores festival. I kept smelling something wonderful and finally asked where it was coming from. One of the sweetest garden scents I've ever experienced. I've tried twice to get them established in my gardens, but they are a challenge to grow here. I will keep trying, and hopefully figure out the trick to making them happy. Can't give up on a scent like that!!!

Tip: if your hellibores are happy, that's the amount sun/shade that'll make this daphne happy!!

One word of caution: daphnes are notoriously finicky. . .they're known for it, often just up and dying for no discernable reason! In particular, the vendor cautioned me to plant it where I intended to let it grow, cause they REALLY don't appreciate being moved!

(However. . . if you're REALLY cautious and take a few days or more preparing it to be moved, moving it CAN be done succeszfullky)

This is a pic of my recently moved daphne, sheltering a hellibore (lower left front): they BOTH are happy & thriving!!