# Flax-leaved Daphne (*Daphne gnidium*)

Flax-leaved Daphne is a pretty shrub with lovely flowers. It has narrow leaves and can grow in sunny places. The flowers are often pink or white and smell sweet!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate
- **Habitat:** Coastal areas

![Flax-leaved Daphne](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Daphne_gnidium3.jpg&width=800)

Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Daphne_gnidium3.jpg)

## Appearance

The Flax-leaved Daphne is a dense, upright evergreen shrub with narrow, lance-shaped leaves resembling flax. It produces clusters of small, fragrant white to pinkish-white flowers, followed by tiny, bright red-orange berries, making it visually distinct from many shrubs.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Malvales
- **Family:** Thymelaeaceae
- **Genus:** Daphne

## Interesting facts

- Despite its beauty, touching its sap can cause skin irritation. Be cautious!
- It thrives in poor, rocky soils where many other plants struggle to grow.
- Its scientific name, Daphne, comes from a Greek myth about a nymph who turned into a laurel tree!
- The bright red berries are a warning sign: they are highly poisonous if eaten.

## Special abilities

- **Drought Defender:** Flax-leaved Daphne has tough, leathery leaves that help it retain water and survive dry, Mediterranean summers.
- **Toxic Shield:** Flax-leaved Daphne produces toxic compounds in its leaves and berries, protecting it from most hungry herbivores.
- **Fragrance Flare:** Its small, perfumed flowers release a strong scent to attract pollinators like bees and other insects from afar.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 50-150 cm
- **Spread:** 50-100 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring-summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** High
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from its fragrant flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Visits the small flowers for nectar, aiding plant reproduction.
- **Pollinates:** Painted Lady Butterfly (*Vanessa cardui*) — Feeds on nectar, helping to spread pollen between plants.

## Traits

- [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate

Do not touch the berries or leaves, as they can be harmful if eaten.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Flax-leaved Daphne?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Flax-leaved Daphne?

50-150 cm

### How wide does Flax-leaved Daphne spread?

50-100 cm

### How big are the flowers on Flax-leaved Daphne?

0.5-1 cm

### When does Flax-leaved Daphne bloom?

Spring-summer

### Is Flax-leaved Daphne edible?

No

### Is Flax-leaved Daphne toxic?

High

### What is Flax-leaved Daphne's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Barrancas de Castrejón y Calaña Natural Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrancas-de-castrejon-y-calana-natural-monument) — Castilla-La Mancha, ES · Park
- [Teide National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/teide-national-park) — Spain, ES · National Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Flax-leaved Daphne: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/flax-leaved-daphne)