Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Daphne odora 'MonStrk'
Moonlight Parfait Winter Daphne
- Family
- Thymelaeaceae
- Height
- 3 to 4 feet
- Width
- 3 to 4 feet
- Flower color
- White flowers with pink highlights, emerging from rose-pink buds
- Foliage color
- Glossy green leaves with creamy-yellow variegated margins
- Bloom time
- Late winter to early spring
- Light
- Partial shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low; requires minimal pruning and benefits from a sheltered location
- Growing zone
- USDA Zones 7 to 9
- Wildlife
- Attracts bees
About this plant
Daphne odora 'MonStrk', commonly known as Moonlight Parfait Winter Daphne, is an evergreen shrub celebrated for its beautifully variegated foliage and intensely fragrant blooms. Its glossy green leaves, edged with creamy-yellow margins, provide year-round interest, while the flowers-white with pink accents-bloom in late winter to early spring. These tubular blossoms emerge from rose-colored buds, filling the garden with a sweet and citrusy fragrance.
Originating from Asia, specifically Japan and China, this cultivar is a standout among winter daphnes for its aesthetic appeal and hardiness. Its compact, mounded growth habit makes it suitable for containers or as a feature in smaller garden spaces. Although somewhat fussy in its care, 'MonStrk' rewards attention with a display that bridges the gap between seasons.
Works well in
Shade Gardens · Fragrant Gardens · Woodland Gardens · Paths & Walkways
Companion plants
Leucothoe · Yew · Viola · Astilbe · Hellebores · Ferns
Design tip
Rose-pink buds opening to nearly white flowers create a subtle progression of color against the creamy-edged foliage. Position this compact daphne where it can be viewed at close range, allowing those small color details and its powerful late-winter fragrance to become part of the experience.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen in the Oregon Display Garden at Monrovia.
