Daphne sericea

The botanical name of this species, Daphne, causes a lot of confusion in Greek because the word daphni is used for laurel (Laurus nobilis) more commonly known as bay (leaf).

The Daphne family and here Daphne sericea have no connection whatsoever to Laurus nobilis.

This beautiful shrub with sweetly scented flowers grows in open calcareous woodland, garigue and phrygana at altitudes up to 1200 m and flowers between February and May. The flowers open a rich pink and fade to a pale yellowish brown when they get older. A shrub can be entirely one colour or mix several flowering stages.

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