I love this plant. It blooms brilliant fuchsia colored blossoms along the upright stark bare branches. The perfume fills the air on a sunny late winter day with the most intoxicating scent. It is always a harbinger of spring and very hardy. Here in Seattle it blooms at the end of February and is commonly called February daphne.

It is also an extremely poisonous plant. The blooms turn into brilliant red seeds along the stems. According to some of the websites, 10 seeds can cause death. Fortunately, we do not have children and pets are not attracted or affected by the seeds. There is also an ‘alba’ white form which has creamy yellow seeds.

G remembers even seeing it in the wild above Lake Misurina in the Dolomite region of the Italian Alps.