Daphne sericea, commonly known as the silky daphne, is a deciduous shrub native to a variety of habitats including rocky slopes, open pine woodlands, and scrubby areas in southern Italy, Sicily, Crete, Syria, and the Caucasus. It is typically found at elevations up to 5906 feet (1800 meters). This species reaches up to 16 inches (40 cm) in height and has narrow, lance-shaped leaves that are 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) long. Silky daphne is notable for its clusters of fragrant purple flowers, each cluster containing 5 to 15 blooms that appear in late spring to early summer. The flowers are followed by fleshy orange-red to orange-brown fruits that are attractive to birds.

Silky daphne is appreciated for its fragrant flowers and is used in gardens for border planting, as a specimen shrub, or in rock gardens due to its modest size and adaptability to various soil types. It thrives in well-drained soils, prefers full sun to partial shade, and requires moderate watering. While not commonly available, it can be propagated from semi-hardwood cuttings taken in summer. Gardeners should be aware that all parts of the plant are toxic if ingested, and it can cause skin irritation on contact.CC BY-SA 4.0