Daphne sericea


Daphne sericea is a shrubby species of flowering plant in the genus Daphne with purple flowers. It was described by Martin Vahl. Daphne collina has been treated as a separate species, but is considered to be a cultivar or group of cultivars of D. sericea.

Description

Daphne sericea usually grows as a shrub to a height of 30 to 40 cm, but can sometimes grow taller. Its leaves are 2 to 4 cm in length. Fragrant purple flowers are produced in late spring to early summer in clusters of 5 to 15. Each flower is around 8 mm long. Fertilized flowers produce fleshy fruits, orange-red to orange-brown in colour. Forms from southern Italy have been called Daphne collina, Daphne sericea 'Collina' and Daphne sericea Collina Group. They are more compact than forms from other parts of the species' range, but otherwise similar.

Distribution and habitat

Daphne sericea is found in southern Italy, Sicily, Crete, Syria and the Caucasus. It typically grows on rocky slopes and in open pinewoods, at elevations up to 1800 m.

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized: