Scented Daphne

Scented Daphne (Phaleria clerodendron) is a rainforest native from far north Queensland that grows as a large shrub or small tree, 4 to 8m tall and about 4m wide. It carries huge, glossy evergreen leaves and, mostly in autumn, clusters of pineapple-scented white flowers that open straight out of the branches and trunk. Red berries follow, and the birds love them.

Why you'll love it

• Scent you can plan around. The white flowers smell of pineapple, so plant it where you will walk past or sit near it.
• Flowers on the trunk. Botanists call this cauliflory. The blooms open directly on the branches and trunk, which is unusual and memorable.
• Big glossy foliage. Large dark green leaves hold all year in warm gardens, giving a lush, tropical presence.
• Food for wildlife. The red, plum-sized berries feed fruit-eating birds, including cassowaries where they live.
• A true Australian native. It is a rainforest plant with real local wildlife value, as well as being a feature in its own right.

Where it works best

Feature planting. Give it room as a specimen, with about 4m clear around it, beside a path, patio or entry where the scent reaches you.

Tropical and frost free subtropical gardens. It grows as far south as Sydney in a frost free spot, where it makes a bold, leafy canopy under larger trees.

Bird and wildlife gardens. The berries attract fruit-eating birds, so it earns its place in a planting designed for wildlife.

Growing Scented Daphne in Australia

Position and climate. Sun or shade, as long as the soil stays moist. It is a plant for tropical gardens and frost free subtropical gardens, reaching as far south as Sydney in a sheltered, frost free position. Frost and cold winters are its limit.

Soil. Moist, rich, well mulched soil, the kind a rainforest floor provides. Dig compost in at planting time and keep a thick layer of mulch over the roots.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly until it is established, usually around 12 weeks, then water in dry periods or whenever the soil dries out. Feed with a slow release fertiliser in spring.

Pruning. Prune as required after flowering to hold the shape. Because the flowers open on the branches and trunk, cut after flowering rather than before.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Scented Daphne as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, and in 200mm pots in packs of 6. A tube plant is a small starter, and like most rainforest shrubs it spends its first seasons building roots and leaf, so flowering comes later. The 200mm pots arrive with a bigger start. Plant out into moist, mulched soil and keep the water up for the first summer.

Our grower supplies the tubes, and supply comes and goes. If the tube shows as sold out, the grower has none at the moment, and the notify button on this page will email you the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• More Australian native plants
• Browse fragrant plants
• Designing a lush tropical garden
• Creating a backyard bird sanctuary

Common questions

Is it safe to eat the berries?

No. The berries feed birds, but treat them as inedible for people and pets, and keep children from picking them.

How big does it get?

Expect 4 to 8m tall and about 4m wide in the garden. Pruning after flowering holds the shape, but it is best given the space it wants.

Will it grow in cooler southern cities?

Not outdoors. It needs a tropical or frost free subtropical climate and reaches as far south as Sydney, so it is not a garden plant for colder areas.