mezereon

Also known as: dwarf bay; February daphne; lady's laurel; mezereum; mysterious plant; spurge flax; spurge olive

A deciduous, rounded shrub to 1.5m. Flowers usually appear before the leaves, purplish-pink or purplish-red, clustered closely in twos and threes from buds on the twigs in early spring, very fragrant, followed by round red berries. Leaves oblanceolate, dull grey-green, short-stalked, to 9cm long

Scientific classification

Species: mezereon (Daphne mezereum)
Genus: Daphne
Family: Thymelaeaceae

TOXIC if eaten, skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling]
Toxicity: Shrubs
Plant type: 1-1.5 metres
Height: 0.5-1 metres
Spread: Deciduous
Foliage: Bushy
Habit: Spring · Summer · Autumn
Season of interest: Full sun · Partial shade
Sunlight: Information to be completed
Ideal temperature

mezereon pictures

Distribution of mezereon

Distribution map

Europe to Central Asia

Information to be completed

Culture

Information to be completed

Toxicity

TOXIC if eaten, skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling]

Quick identification of mezereon

Information to be completed

mezereon care guide

Keep soil evenly moist but perfectly drained
Watering: Full sun · Partial shade
Sunlight: Information to be completed
Ideal temperature

Watering

Keep soil evenly moist but perfectly drained

Fertilizing

Light feed in spring only, avoid heavy fertilizing

Pruning

Little pruning is needed. Remove diseased, damaged, crowded or crossing shoots and unwanted growth. Timing depends on the plant: generally late winter or early spring; plants prone to bleeding and deciduous magnolias need different timing, and deciduous azaleas and lilacs are pruned after flowering.

Propagation

Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe. Propagate by softwood cuttings in early to midsummer and semi-ripe heel cuttings in mid or late summer

Growing

Grow in moderately fertile, humus-rich, well-drained but not dry soil in sun or part shade. Mulch to keep roots cool. Establishes best if planted in the spring, resents transplanting so do not move once established

More growing and care information →