.jpg)
Thymelaeaceae — Evergreen sub-shrub. This garden hybrid unites two complementary Mediterranean-Balkan species: Daphne arbuscula, endemic to the calcareous Carpathians, and Daphne sericea, originating from the eastern Mediterranean basin. It does not exist in the wild and appeared in cultivation among specialized collectors.
The result is a compact and vigorous sub-shrub, sturdier than D. arbuscula while remaining of contained size, between 20 and 35 cm in height, gradually spreading into a dense dome. The leaves, evergreen, oblong to spatulate, leathery and shiny, a deep dark green, are wider than those of D. arbuscula, revealing the contribution of D. sericea. The terminal clusters of flowers are abundant, tight, a bright pink-purple to violet depending on the individuals; the buds, often darker, turn to a clear pink upon blooming. The flowering is generous and literally covers the foliage.
In cultivation, its flowering extends from April to May, sometimes with a partial resurgence in autumn.
Like all Daphne, the plant is toxic. This hybrid proves more vigorous and accommodating than its parents, while retaining their fundamental requirement: very well-drained soil, calcareous or mineral, in full sun, without excess stagnant moisture. It is perfectly suited to rock gardens or container cultivation.