Daphniphyllum macropodum

Common Names

Gulgeori Tree, False Daphne, Yuzuriha

Summary

An evergreen shrub or small tree native to East Asia (China, Korea, Japan), it features glossy dark-green leaves with a rhododendron-like shape, 5–25 cm long, often with red petioles, and a dense, rounded habit reaching roughly 4.5–7.5 m tall and wide; new growth can be pinkish, and small, inconspicuous greenish flowers appear in spring, followed by blue-black drupes on female plants.

Cultivation favors moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil in partial shade to light sun, tolerates lime, and is hardy to USDA zones 7a–9b; it is dioecious, requiring both male and female plants for seed production, and can be propagated by seed or semi-ripe cuttings; commonly grown as an ornamental for foliage in borders, hedges, or as a specimen, with additional uses including wood that is soft and fine-grained, and leaves historically cooked as New Year greens.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

15–25 ft

Spread

15-25 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil; moist but not waterlogged; loamy preferred (slightly acidic to neutral).

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Green

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color; evergreen.

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow growth; may take several years to reach full height.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering, Division, Grafting

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts birds