Mezereon
Daphne mezereum
Also listed as Thymelaea mezereum
Also known as Mezereum, February Daphne, Spurge Olive
Climate Match for your location
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Mezereon is a compact deciduous shrub prized for its fragrant pink, red, or white flowers that appear in late winter before the leaves emerge. The plant produces bright red berries in summer and prefers cool climates with consistent moisture.
Why grow it
Mezereon offers early winter interest through fragrant flowers that bloom before most spring shrubs leaf out, making it valuable for extending the ornamental season in cool climates. Compared to other early-blooming shrubs like forsythia or winter jasmine, mezereon provides both flowers and subsequent berry crops attractive to birds, though it demands more consistent moisture and cooler temperatures than many alternatives.
Watch out for
This shrub can be slow to establish and may languish in warm or dry conditions without supplemental watering during establishment. Performance is highly dependent on site selection; poor drainage or afternoon heat stress often leads to dieback or failure to thrive, even in suitable climate zones.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Thymelaeaceae
Native Range
Europe and western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Mezereon is a compact deciduous shrub prized for its fragrant pink, red, or white flowers that appear in late winter before the leaves emerge. The plant produces bright red berries in summer and prefers cool climates with consistent moisture.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Mezereon grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Mezereon offers early winter interest through fragrant flowers that bloom before most spring shrubs leaf out, making it valuable for extending the ornamental season in cool climates. Compared to other early-blooming shrubs like forsythia or winter jasmine, mezereon provides both flowers and subsequent berry crops attractive to birds, though it demands more consistent moisture and cooler temperatures than many alternatives.
Watch out for
This shrub can be slow to establish and may languish in warm or dry conditions without supplemental watering during establishment. Performance is highly dependent on site selection; poor drainage or afternoon heat stress often leads to dieback or failure to thrive, even in suitable climate zones.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Thymelaeaceae
Native Range
Europe and western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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