Daphne

A supreme group of plants grown for the delicious scent, often produced in winter, through into spring. The flowers are attractive, 4-lobed, tubular, pink, white, yellow and an almost blue from D. genkwa. Foliage is simple, evergreen or deciduous. Shrubs to a medium size, down to prostrate forms suitable for a rock garden. A couple of species prefer a shady position, D. laureola and D. pontica, otherwise full sun to some part shade. They will need a good soil, which doesn't dry out for long periods, nor gets waterlogged! Part of the same family, Thymelaceae, which also includes the equally beautiful Edgeworthia.