If you’re asking, “is daphne evergreen?” you’re in good company—many gardeners across New Zealand are drawn to daphnes for their legendary fragrance and elegant growth, but it’s important to know if these highly scented shrubs offer year-round foliage. The answer is both yes and no, depending on the variety. Daphnes are a diverse group of shrubs, and their evergreen or deciduous nature varies by species. In this article, we’ll clarify which popular daphnes are evergreen, their benefits in your garden, and suggest some standout varieties to consider.

Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter', commonly known as Pinatoro or the NZ Daphne plant, is a mat-forming, NZ native, ground cover plant. It has small, blue foliage which becomes adorned with fragrant, white flowers in spring and results in white berries. This evergreen typically grows to 10 cm tall and 50 cm wide. Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter' is commonly used as a groundcover, added to coastal plantings, included in rock gardens, planted around outdoor living areas, grown on a bank, or positioned so it can spill out over a path or over a wall.
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Daphniphyllum macropodum is a truly impressive evergreen tree. The young growth in spring resembles masses of miniature Cycads and has red hues. Older foliage sits as a rosette with a downward arch and is dark green. The combination of old and new foliage produces quite a dramatic display and affords the tree a lush appearance. Clusters of small, cream flowers in spring result in purple berries in autumn. It typically grows to 3 m tall and the same wide, and can be trimmed as necessary. Best results with this tree are achieved when it is grown in full sun or partial shade on a well-drained, sheltered site. It is tolerant of moderate frost once established. This evergreen is typically grown as a specimen, added to a mixed planting, maintained in a courtyard garden, included in a tropical garden, or planted around outdoor living areas.
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