Daphne aka Daphne

Daphne, a minor figure in Greek mythology, is a naiad associated with freshwater. According to the myth, she was cursed by Cupid and became the object of Apollo's infatuation. Just as Apollo was about to kiss her, Daphne called upon her river god father who transformed her into a laurel tree. This event led to Apollo's reverence for laurel, and the tradition of awarding laurel wreaths as prizes. The Daphne shrub, a genus of scented shrubs with brightly colored berries, is known for its compact size and fragrant white flowers. One popular cultivar, Carol Mackie, is a rounded shrub with variegated foliage and blooms in early May. Despite being classified as deciduous, Carol Mackie plants in a zone 5 garden usually retain their leaves throughout the winter.