February Daphne is easy to identify by its small, pink, or purplish flowers that appear on bare branches in early spring before the leaves have begun to grow. The plant's common name refers to the timing of its blooms, which typically appear in February.
February Daphne (Daphne mezereum) is a deciduous shrub native to Europe and Asia. It reaches a height of 5 feet (1.5 meters) and has a broad, spreading habit and a dense, twiggy structure. Some things to look for are the generally thorny branches and lanceolate, glossy, and dark green leaves that can be around 1.6-3 inches (4-8 cm) in length. The flowers have a sweet, fragrant scent, and small, dark red berries follow them in late summer or early fall. However, all parts of the plant, including the leaves, stems, flowers, and berries, contain toxic compounds that can cause severe symptoms if ingested, such as nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, and in severe cases, seizures, and even death. The sap of the plant can also cause skin irritation and blistering, keep that in mind.
