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Key characteristics

Family: Thymelaeaceae
Height: 3 to 4 feet
Width: 3 to 4 feet
Flower color: White flowers with a light pink blush
Foliage color: Variegated green leaves with creamy edges
Bloom time: Spring, with intermittent blooms throughout summer and fall
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low; prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape
Growing zone: USDA Zones 6 to 9
Wildlife: Bees and butterflies, attracted to the sweetly scented flowers

Shrubs

Daphne x transatlantica 'Summer Ice'

Summer Ice Daphne

Daphne x transatlantica 'Summer Ice' is an evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub valued for its elegant variegated foliage and sweetly fragrant blooms. Its green leaves, edged with creamy white margins, provide year-round interest and serve as a beautiful backdrop to the clusters of pale pink to white flowers. These blooms are highly fragrant and appear in abundance from late spring through autumn, with occasional flowers emerging even during mild winter periods.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Spring, with intermittent blooms throughout summer and fall

Find this plant

Works well in

Sun Gardens
Fragrant Gardens
Foundation Plantings
Paths & Walkways

Companion plants

Juniper · Beautyberry · Larkspur · Pincushion flower · Wallflower · Grape hyacinth

Design tip

Creamy leaf margins give this daphne a crisp, bright appearance even between flowering periods. Against darker evergreen foliage, the variegation becomes more pronounced, while the long succession of pale fragrant flowers adds softness and keeps the combination changing from spring through fall.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)