Daphne – Perfume Princess

Perfume Princess™ Daphne has redefined what gardeners can expect from a daphne. It is the earliest and longest flowering daphne ever bred – from mid winter to late spring. It covers itself with an astonishing profusion of large flowers, not just at the tips of each branch, but also along the stems. Perfume Princess Daphne retains the unmistakable fragrance that has made daphnes so beloved – enhanced by a delicate citrus undertone – on a bush that’s a great shape with attractive evergreen foliage. This makes it not only a visual delight but also an aromatic centrepiece in any garden.

The bush itself is beautifully proportioned, with dense, evergreen foliage that adds year-round structure and colour to landscapes. Its naturally compact and shapely form makes it a versatile choice: it can be grown as a standalone specimen, mass-planted for dramatic effect, or pruned into formal hedges and topiaries. Shaping is simple and low-maintenance, just trim lightly with shears in early summer if desired.

One of the most exceptional features of Daphne Perfume Princess is its ease of care and robustness, especially when compared to traditional daphne plants. This daphne is remarkably tolerant of different soils, climates and growing conditions, requiring no special treatments, fungicides, or pesticides to thrive. Its resilience and low-maintenance nature make it a favourite among gardeners, landscapers, and designers who want beauty without the fuss.

Whether you’re looking for a fragrant feature plant, a beautifully scented hedge or a low-maintenance flowering shrub, Perfume Princess Daphne delivers exceptional performance year after year. Its breakthrough flowering habit, exquisite fragrance and naturally attractive form make it unlike any other daphne, rewarding gardeners with months of colour and perfume when they need it most.

FLOWERS & FOLIAGE

Masses of flowers are up to four times larger than a traditional daphne, with added clusters on the stems of mature plants. Flowering mid winter to late spring, there are also spot flowers in summer: a highly fragrant daphne with a beautiful light citrus undertone. Available in soft pink and pure white.

PLANTING TIPS

This Perfume Princess daphne isn’t fussy, growing almost anywhere, tolerating temperatures of -18 to +40°C (or 5 to 105°F). It’ll grow in any soil but prefers soils that are slightly acid and free draining. If planting in a pot, use a large one and fill it with quality potting mix to give good drainage.

WAYS TO USE THEM

Pop the Princess in a pot near the door so the fragrance can greet you. Plant it as an evergreen hedge along the path for year round structure and a seasonal fragrant hit. Tuck it beside a garden seat to create a mid-winter perfumed retreat.

SHAPE & SIZE

Daphne Perfume Princess will grow into a dense upright bush, taking up roughly a square metre once established. There’s no need to prune, but if you do shape the plant, do it just after flowering in Spring to promote lots of fresh growth.

FOOD & WATER

This Perfume Princess daphne’s thirst is light to moderate so infrequent watering is best. It’s a good idea to apply a slow release fertiliser after flowering to boost growth and next season’s flowers: toss one to two handfuls around the base of each plant.

PESTS & DISEASE

Daphne Perfume Princess has good disease resistance, which is one of the reasons why it grows so easily into a robust specimen. As for insect pests, it may suffer the odd aphid or scale infestation: treat plants only if they’re affected.