Daphne gemmata 'Royal Crown' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Daphne 'Royal Crown'

Daphne gemmata 'Royal Crown'

£22.99
Hardy in the UKShade-tolerant
Pot size
13cm / 1L £22.99

FREE tracked delivery on orders over £60

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Description

Daphne gemmata 'Royal Crown' is a daphne with a difference: clusters of scented, butter-yellow trumpets instead of the usual pink or white. They open in late spring and early summer on a neat, rounded shrub of smooth, bright green oval leaves, and bright red berries follow in autumn.

Hardiness and seasons. The RHS rates it H4, hardy through most of the UK, and we would plan on around -5C as its comfortable limit. It is deciduous, so it spends winter as a twiggy framework of bare stems, and cold, wet soil is a bigger risk than frost. Mulch the roots in autumn and give it a sheltered spot.

Where it fits. At around 75cm tall and wide when mature, it suits the front of a sheltered border, a raised bed or a spot beside a path where the scent can be enjoyed close up. Pair it with the winter-flowering Daphne laureola subsp. philippi for daphne scent at both ends of the year.

What you receive: a young plant in a 13cm (1L) pot. From autumn to spring it may be leafless; that is normal for this daphne.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Daphne 'Royal Crown'

Plant me in full sun and I will stand a UK winter outdoors.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Daphne 'Royal Crown'

Daphne gemmata 'Royal Crown' needs full sun or partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. It is hardy to around −10°C, standing an average UK winter outdoors.

Good for

Exotic Borders

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

RHS H4 · Hardy Exotic · down to around −10°C

Rated H4 by the RHS (-10 to -5C), hardy through most of the UK. Some specialist growers class it as borderline, so plan on around -5C as its comfortable limit and give it a sheltered spot in colder areas. Wet, cold soil does more harm than frost: good drainage and an autumn mulch over the roots are the best protection. It is deciduous, so bare stems in winter are expected. See what to expect through the seasons.

Position

Full sunPartial shadeSouth-facingEast-facingWest-facingSheltered

Full sun or partial shade, out of cold, drying winds. A sheltered, south, east or west facing spot at the front of an exotic border suits it well, close enough to a path to catch the scent, and it is happy in the dappled light of partly shaded spots. Choose the spot carefully: daphnes dislike being moved once settled.

Soil

ChalkLoamSandMoist but well-drainedAcid pHAlkaline pHNeutral pH

Moderately fertile, humus-rich soil that holds moisture but never sits wet: chalk, loam or sandy soils, acid to alkaline. Heavy clay is best avoided unless improved with grit and organic matter. Mulch to keep the roots cool in summer. Daphnes are deep-rooted and rarely thrive long term in pots, so plant it out rather than keeping it in a container.

Watering

Water regularly in the first year so the roots never dry out, but never leave it standing wet. Mulch each spring and autumn. Plant it where it can stay: daphnes resent being moved. Read moreShow less

Water regularly in the first year so the roots never dry out, but never leave it standing wet. Mulch each spring and autumn. Plant it where it can stay: daphnes resent being moved.

Mature size

Height0.5-1 m
Spread0.5-1 m

Reaches full size in 5-10 years

Growth habit

Bushy

Flowering

May-Jun · Yellow

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Deciduous

Pruning

No routine pruning is needed, and cutting into daphnes often causes die-back. In early spring, remove only dead or damaged stems.

Toxicity

Toxic if eaten and a skin irritant; toxic to pets. All parts, including the red berries, are poisonous. Wear gloves when handling and plant it away from children and animals that chew plants.

Native range

South-Central China (north and west Sichuan, northern Yunnan), on cliffs and dry, sunny banks at 400 to 1800m (species); 'Royal Crown' is a garden selection

Family

Thymelaeaceae

Also known as

Daphne gemmata 'Royal Crown'

Genus

Daphne
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

How big does Daphne 'Royal Crown' grow?

It is a compact, rounded shrub of around 75cm tall and wide when mature, reached in five to ten years. That makes it a good fit for the front of a border or a small garden.

Where is the best place to plant a daphne?

A sheltered spot in sun or partial shade, in humus-rich soil that holds moisture but drains well, close to a path or door where the scent can be enjoyed. Daphnes dislike being moved, so choose the spot before planting. Our exotic border plants include good companions.

Is Daphne 'Royal Crown' hardy in the UK?

The RHS rates it H4, hardy through most of the UK. Some growers call it borderline, so plan on around -5C as its comfortable limit, shelter it in colder areas and mulch the roots in autumn. Cold, wet soil is a bigger danger than frost.

Which is the longest flowering daphne?

Flowering time varies more than length. 'Royal Crown' flowers in late spring and early summer, when most daphnes have finished, so it extends the daphne season rather than competing with the winter-flowering kinds such as Daphne laureola subsp. philippi. More scented shrubs are in our hardy exotic shrubs range.

Why is daphne hard to grow?

Daphnes are fussy about soil moisture: they dislike both drought and waterlogging, and sudden die-back usually follows one or the other. They also resent root disturbance and pruning. Plant once in well-drained, humus-rich soil, mulch, water through dry spells and leave it alone.

Is Daphne gemmata the same as Wikstroemia gemmata?

Yes. Both names refer to the same Chinese species. It was moved to the genus Wikstroemia in 1932, and Kew and the RHS now list it under Daphne gemmata, with Wikstroemia gemmata as a synonym.

Are your plants treated with pesticides?
We aim to avoid using pesticides where possible, but we can't control the whole supply chain.

If the plant is going into a vivarium, terrarium or aquarium with live animals, rinse the leaves and roots well, remove any soil and let the plant dry out before adding it. We'd also suggest keeping it away from animals for a month first.
Can I see a photo of the exact plant I'll receive?
We're not able to send photos of individual plants or let you choose a specific one, as plants are selected by our team when your order is packed. Our photos show the variety and the kind of plant you can expect, and yours may vary a little in height, shape or fullness.

If a size has a code next to it, such as 9cm / B2, you're buying the exact plant pictured.
Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 7 days with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
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Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

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From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

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All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

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Daphne gemmata 'Royal Crown'
£22.99