It might not seem like the best advice to set a bush that was described by the horticulturalist , Michael Dirr , as sometimes cash in one’s chips suddenly “ for no explicable grounds . ” But that monition can be a tempting gauntlet to throw away down before an intrepid gardener . Dirr also sound out that even a unmarried - flower season of a daphne would justify its use .
The genus name of daphne was originally used for laurel ( Laurusnobles ) . It was later on reassign to this genus which has between 70 - 95 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs in the class Thymelaeaceae , native to Asia , Europe and North Africa . ( A species is a chance variable that evolves course from related to forebears , surviving and eventually stablilizing because it is good adapt to its surroundings . Acultivaris a discrepancy produced by human , by crossing naturalspeciesand prefer those with some desired trait . ) There are daphnes suited to southerly climate , northerly clime , partial shade , gay rock gardens , and even container .
Common Characteristics
While theDaphne odorasare confine to more southern climate up to zone 7 , theD. mezereum , D. alpina , andD. cneorumspecies , and the Burkwoodii cultivars , can stand firm winters up to zones 4 - 5 . There are general machine characteristic , however , that symbolise this genus regardless of planting geographical zone . These bush are fuck for being irksome to lay down and downright perverse about being moved once settled . Their winter hardiness can be pad by pick out site in more protected area out of the path of biting wind . Daphnes broadly speaking require well - drained , sandy - humusy land with a inert pH of 6.5 to 7 . Some gardeners total guts or flummox to assure honest drain . misfortunate drain is a major cause of plant nonstarter in the landscape . In region of weighed down clay soils , raised beds can be beneficial . Established plant life have some drought tolerance , but soils should not be leave to dry out out . summertime mulching aid keep the roots cool . All part of the plant , including foliage and Chuck Berry , are poisonous , so it is truly deer resistant . Pruning prerequisite vary by cultivar . likely diseases let in botrytis , leafage spots , canker sore , twig blight , crown rot , ancestor rot and virus . Potential worm pest admit aphids , mealybugs and weighing machine .
Daphne Species and Cultivars
The powerfully redolent blooms of the speciesDaphne odoraappear in the sometimes bleak , gray week of late February to mid - March , just when the progressively impatient nurseryman need an encouraging sign of spring .
D. odoraor winter daphne is hardy only to about 10 level F and is befit to planting zones 7 - 9 . Its wintertime hardiness can be bolster by placing the shrub in a more saved area out of the path of bite winds ; works weakened by wintertime injury are more susceptible to disease . In raging climates , plants benefit from afternoon wraith because their foliage is vulnerable to sun scorch . summertime mulching is recommended to help keep the roots coolheaded . This smaller - sized bush , about 3 ’ to 4 ’ tall and 2 ’ to 3 ’ wide , does not ordinarily postulate any pruning which is fortunate because its mature woodwind does not bring around well from cuts . you could cut the flowers , however , without wound the plant , and the blossoms keep well in H2O . The deep odoriferous efflorescence are reddish - purpleness with interior of wan pink to whiten in terminal blossoming . Flowers are follow by red fruit in July - August , but fruit are infrequently bring out on cultivated bush .
The most commonD. odoracultivar , ‘ Aureomarginata,’has leafage with minute , irregular icteric margins and terminal cluster of small flowers that are snowy inside , and deep , purplish pink outside . ‘ Aureomarginata ’ is also noted for having more or less better wintertime hardiness than otherD. odorasand can acquire to a superlative of 5 feet .
Daphne x burkwoodii ‘ Somerset,’a cross betweenD. cneorumandD. caucasica , is suited to zone 5 - 8.This cultivar is a easy - growing , densely branched , deciduous bush which typically grows 2 ’ to 3′ tall and 4 ’ to 5 ’ wide with a rounded , mound habit . It have clusters of extremely fragrant , creamy white to pale bloom - pink peak in late spring which are keep up by tiny cherry stone fruit in fall . Small , slow , oblong , shining green leaves often persist well into December with no drop color .
Daphne x burkwoodii‘Carol Mackie’,a cross betweenD. cneorumandD. caucasica , will live in zona 4 - 8 . ‘ Carol Mackie ’ is most noted for its striking emollient - edged variegated foliage that lasts well into December . This cultivar is a obtuse , slow - maturate , deciduous bush which typically grows 2 ’ to 3′ tall and 3 ’ to 4 ’ broad with a rounded , mound habit . Fragrant clusters of pale pink flowers bloom in later natural spring followed by bantam red-faced drupes . Once established , about ¼ of sure-enough growth should be pruned annually to about 6 ” in elevation . ‘ Carol Mackie ’ prefer a neutral to slenderly acidic soil pH.
D.mezereum , commonly visit February Daphne because of its late wintertime flowers , is one of the hardiest of the daphne species . It grows in zone 4 - 7 . This lowly deciduous shrub typically grows to 3 ’ to 5′ tall and as wide . A native of Europe and Western Asia , it was introduced into America in compound times . It dislikes the red-hot , humid summers of the Dixie and flourish in shaded , woodland areas of cool - weather nation . Although it opt fond tint , it can tolerate full Dominicus if the land is kept uniformly moist . Oblanceolate ( rounded apex of the sun’s way and tapered foundation ) , dark green leaves are arranged spirally along the stems . Fragrant reddish - purpleness to pinkish flower bloom in late March to early April prior to the emergence of the leaves . Flowers are follow by little fruit which age in June .
All parts of this plant are poisonous to homo if ingested ; plant saps also typically cause skin irritations . Plant saps were once used in a rouge - like cosmetic until it was discover that rosy cheeks were the result of blood vessel damage rather than the blush of good health . Birds can exhaust the berries without sick effects .
D.mezereumf . ‘ Alba’is an upright deciduous shrub with narrow , dull green leaf and very fragrant white flowers that flower in late wintertime and early spring , prior to the growth of leaves ; the flowers are followed by yellow-bellied Berry . The bush prefers fairly fertile , well - drained ( but not ironical ) soil , in sun or part tad . Aphids may be a problem ; ‘ Alba ’ is also subject to grayish mold ( Botrytis ) and a computer virus .
D. mezereum‘Alpina’is a behind - grow , semi - flat form that eventually forms a gnarled compact bush . White bloom , like to the species , are give rise in the spring . This mezereum cultivar is unlike fromDaphne alpina .
D. alpinais a deciduous prostrate specie of daphne which can tolerate cold climate up to zona 5 . The mid - fleeceable , simple oblanceolate leaves are alternate . The bush bring out panicle of white salverform flowers ( trumpet - influence peak that start out as a minute tube and extend into a flared mouth ) from May to June . The flowers give way to orange drupes . D. alpinaprefers a sunny to half - shady situation in fairly moist soil of gritty loam .
D.cneorum , Rose Daphne , Garland Flower or Rock Daphne , is a prostrate species which grows from 6 ” to 12 ” tall with a cattle ranch to 3 ’ or more . It stick out climates as cold as zone 4 . It is a slow - growing groundcover with alternate , very narrow-minded , oblanceolate leave . Its bright pink , fragrant flowers cover the bush with a monumental display in April and May and exude a odoriferous , intense fragrance . Prune after inflorescence ; it may rebloom if sheared after first bloom . It prefers well - drained , moist , pH neutral territory in full sun to partial tone . It can be open to leaf spot , crest rotting and canker . It gets its name ‘ Rock Daphne ’ because it is often grown in rockeries . This plant life also does well and is very attractive in raised beds , border plantings , rock gardens , and container .
D.cneorum‘Eximia’is an evergreen , prostrate shrub , produce to about 8 ’ in height , with concluding cluster of fragrant , bright pink efflorescence opening from blood-red buds , occasionally followed by dark-brown - yellowish berry . The shrub can be grown in areas up to geographical zone 5 in full sun to part - specter but is not reliably hardy in exposed conditions . This vigorouscultivar has make headway the Royal Horticultural Society ’s Award of Garden Merit .
Garden Uses
Many of the daphnes are pocket-sized , rounded bush which makes them quite effective as lynchpin works in smaller gardens . The beautiful , highly fragrant blooms and motley evergreen foliage ofD.odorajustifies its use as an eye - catching accent plant . Daphnes can also be massed in shrub borders as long as they are situated in protective website . Good drainage is a necessity and so the plants are good candidates for raised bed . The smaller bush do well in container and the prostrate forms are well - become to rock garden or used as fillers in foundation plantings . Daphnes should sure as shooting be post in a spot where you’re able to relish their scent . They offer a welcoming presence along an entry way , by the sides of porch , in a corner of a deck or terrace , or any other gathering position or eminent - traffic area . Spend some time evaluating the proper site so that you do n’t demand to move them once they ’re established . And then , breathe in deeply and enjoy !
Sources :
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=f119
https://pitt.ces.ncsu.edu/2014/02/plants-for-winter-interest/
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/daphne-odora/
http://www.learn2grow.com/plants/daphne-odora/
https://www.thespruce.com/taxonomy-of-daphne-shrubs-2132712
http://www.jstor.org/stable/42954927?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
http://en.hortipedia.com/wiki/Daphne_alpina
