Daphne mezereum

Daphne mezereum L.

Daphne mezereum

Daphne mezereum is a deciduous shrub growing up to 1.5 meters tall. It has soft, spirally arranged leaves that are 3–8 cm long and 1–2 cm broad. The flowers, which appear in early spring before the leaves, have a four-lobed pink or light purple perianth with a diameter of 10–15 mm and are strongly scented. The fruit is a bright red berry, 7–12 mm in diameter, which is highly toxic to humans but consumed by birds for seed dispersal.

Details

Order:

Malvales

Family:

Thymelaeaceae

Genus:

Daphne

Chemistry:

The plant contains toxic compounds mezerein and daphnin, particularly in the berries and twigs. These compounds can cause severe symptoms including irritation, choking sensation, and gastrointestinal issues.

Uses:

Despite its toxicity, Daphne mezereum is commonly grown as an ornamental plant for its attractive flowers. It has no known medicinal uses, but the berries are toxic and can cause severe poisoning.

Flowering time:

Early spring

Sowing time:

Plant height:

1.5m

Flower color:

Pink, light purple (rarely white)

Suitable habitat:

Native to most of Europe and Western Asia, including northern Scandinavia and Russia. It is found at medium to higher elevations in southern Europe but descends to near sea level in northern Europe and is generally confined to soils derived from limestone.

Info

Pannon Flora Ltd. was founded on December 13, 1999, by Gábor Janik, who retains 95% ownership. Janik holds an MSc in Horticulture from the University of Horticultural Sciences (1986) and an Advanced Professional English Certification from the College of International Trade (1990). The company specializes in bird feed production and export, primarily serving markets in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, alongside cultivating and distributing imported/exported horticultural seeds. It maintains exclusive partnerships with JOEUN Seed (South Korea) and Takii Europe (Japan), a leader in professional seed breeding and production. Pannon Flora collaborates with certification bodies such as NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), MERT Kontroll, and SGS Hungary to ensure compliance and quality. The company works with approximately 400 Hungarian growers, ranging from small-scale producers (under 5 hectares) to mid-sized farms and large-scale agricultural enterprises. This profile emphasizes agribusiness expertise, technical partnerships, and operational scalability tailored to international client needs.

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