Daphne sericea

Daphne sericea is a shrubby species of flowering plant in the genus Daphne with purple flowers. It was first described by Martin Vahl.^[1] Daphne collina has been treated as a separate species, but is considered to be a cultivar or group of cultivars of D. sericea. It is a parent, with Daphne caucasica, of the popular hybrid garden plant Daphne × transatlantica.

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.^[2] Forms from southern Italy have been called Daphne collina,^[2] Daphne sericea 'Collina'^[3] and Daphne sericea Collina Group.^[4] They are more compact than forms from other parts of the species' range, but otherwise similar.^[2]

• Daphne × transatlantica 'Eternal Fragrance' = 'Blafra'

Daphne sericea was first described by Martin Vahl in 1790. It was subsequently described under a number of different names that are now considered to be synonyms, including Daphne collina.^[1] Daphne pseudosericea has been treated as a subspecies, but as of October 2025 is accepted by Plants of the World Online as a separate species.^[5]

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.^[2]