Daphne Shrubs is named after the Greek nymph. Daphne is a fragrant plant with attractive dark green and glossy leaves and brightly colored berries. Bushes of Daphne is about 1 to 4 feet (30.5 centimeters -- 1.2 meters) tall and Daphne has fragrant clusters of white, yellow, lavender or pink flowers. It is a good choice to grow one of these lovely deciduous, evergreen shrubs in your garden. About 75 to 90 species of daphne grow worldwide. Be careful with Daphne, however, as all parts of it are poisonous, especially the berries.
| Botanical Name
|| Daphne spp., Daphne x hybrids
| Common Name
| Plant Type
|| Broadleaf evergreen shrub
| Mature Size
|| 1–5 feet tall, 2–6 feet across (depends on variety)
| Sun Exposure
|| Full sun to part shade
| Soil Type
|| Moist, well-draining soil
| Soil pH
|| 5.5–6.4 (slightly acidic)
| Bloom Time
Ecological Habits of the Daphne
Daphnes prefer to be grown in partial shade or full sun. Daphne laureola will however tolerate full shade. D. bholua varieties, D. pontica and D. odora varieties may well do best in partial shade particularly where their roots are shaded from full sun. Daphnes thrive in well drained moisture retentive soils and detest waterlogged positions as well as areas of the garden which are very dry. Both may well result in quick fatalities as the roots will either rot in the wet or die back in drought conditions. Where your garden is prone to drying out, and the soil is thin, watering is essential in dry periods.
Daphne Distribution Area
Daphne is a Eurasian genus, being native to central and southern Europe and Asia,from Britain to Japan. Some species are also found in north Africa. Two species, D. mezereum and D. laureola, have been introduced into North America.
The genus name Daphne comes from the Greek language and also means laurel.
The expression Daphne for the real laurel goes back to the Greek mythology.
Apollo, the son of Zeus, had fallen in love with the beautiful river nymph Daphne. Daphne was tired of his intense requests and begged her father, the river god Peneios, he may help her. Peneios turned Daphne into a laurel tree, so that Apollo could not find her.
How to grow and care for Daphne
How to Grow Daphne
After removing the fleshy exterior, you should sow seeds in a pot filled with compost and added grit. Provide a sheltered, shady, and cool place for the pot and wait approximately two years to your seeds germinate.
Growing from cuttings is preferred to growing from seed, though both are tricky. While it is possible to begin Daphne odora from seed, it could take years before you get a big and strong enough shrub to put outside and even more time to get flowers.
With cuttings, start with around a 6-inch branch from an existing, healthy shrub. Dip the cutting into a rooting hormone, and then plant in a pot with rich soil and compost. Keep the cutting lightly watered for the next couple of months. You can gently tug on the cutting after a few weeks to see if roots are established. Then you can try transplanting it to its permanent location in a shady area.
This method includes combining Daphne shrub sprout with the roots of another plant. That will provide vigor and resilience to your shrub. The best time for this is late winter. However, this task is highly demanding, and the better solution is to purchase already grafted plant on a rootstock.
How to Care for Daphne
Daphne needs the partial sun and enough shade during hot afternoons in summer.
Daphne shrubs fare best in extremely well-drained soil with a neutral pH. They can grow in loam or sand. Adding mulch to help keep the soil cool and conserve moisture also helps daphnes.
Your Daphne needs the damp ground to bloom abundantly. Water your shrub regularly, especially during summer, when there is not enough rainfall.
Daphne shrubs can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 4 to 9. These shrubs accept high humidity levels, though they may be susceptible to fungal leaf spots.
A controlled-release fertiliser for acid-loving plants should be applied twice a year, in early spring and early autumn. This can be supplemen