Banana Split Daphne Shrub Has Fragrant Flowers and Striped Foliage
Fantastic foliage + winter flowers!
Variegated evergreen foliage makes the daphne shrub called Banana Split a standout in the garden. Each leaf bears a wide yellow margin and narrow stripes. Daphne shrubs are known for their fragrant flowers and Banana Split also delivers there. Its white blossoms appear in late winter or earliest spring and bear a strong, sweet scent.
Common name: Banana Split daphne
Botanical name: Daphne odora ‘Monzulzay’
Exposure: Part sun to shade
Flowers: Rounded clusters of pink buds appear at the tips of the branches. The buds open into fragrant flowers with four overlapping white petals. Flowering occurs in late winter to early spring.
Foliage: Banana Split is an evergreen daphne shrub with variegated leaves. Each leaf is olive green with bright yellow streaks. The leaves are also edged in bright yellow.
Habit: This daphne shrub grows to four feet tall and wide with a rounded shape.
Origin: Daphne odora, also known as winter daphne, is native to China and Japan. Banana Split is a cultivar introduced by Monrovia in 2023.
How to grow it: Grow Banana Split daphne shrub in part sun or any degree of shade (full, part or dappled) and in fertile, well-drained soil. Good drainage is key. In clay soil, add organic material to increase drainage, build a mound or berm to plant into or use large containers to grow daphne. A daphne shrub needs consistent moisture during its first growing season but it can tolerate brief dry spells once established. Maintain several inches of mulch atop the soil at the root zone to regulate the soil temperature and conserve moisture. USDA Zones 7–9.
Image by Doreen Wynja courtesy of Monrovia
