It grows at altitudes of 1,700–3,500 m (5,577–11,483 ft) in the Himalayas and neighbouring mountain ranges, from Nepal to southern China.

[4] Daphne bholua has leathery leaves and deep pink flowers with a powerful fragrance,[3] and a number of named cultivars have been bred and are grown as garden plants in Europe and North America.

[10] Although all parts of the plant are said to be poisonous,[12] the bark and roots are used in traditional medicine in Nepal to treat fevers.

Even this is not reliable: plants that have grown well for eight to ten years may die suddenly when the root system collapses.

[11] Among the more popular cultivars are (those marked AGM have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit):