Daphne mezereum 'RUBRA' mezereon

One of the first plants to flower at the end of winter is this mezereon. Well before the first spring trees open their buds you can find this plant flowering in the wild, along the paths in the woods or on sunny meadows. Its natural habitat is Europe.

Mezereon is a deciduous shrub with upright branches, flowering profusely on bare wood from February to March. Rubra variety is the one with deepest pink-red flowers. They appear in short clusters of 2-4 flowers and have a strong, sweet perfume. In early summer small berries of poisonous fruit ripen. The leaves are elongate, fresh green.

The shrub grows slowly and resent transplanting. It likes medium fertile soil that is well drained but keeps moisture. Fully hardy to -34°C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 05-01-2009.