The Daphne
- By Sarah Martin
- Published 11/12/2008
- Gardening
- Unrated
Sarah Martin
Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in interior design, landscaping, and gardening. For a great selection of outdoor statues or garden statuary, please visit http://www.garden-fountains.com/.
View all articles by Sarah Martin
This plant, of which the species are numerous, never receives the care and attention its beauty merits. Every green-house contains plants of the well-known Daphne odorata, sometimes called D. Indica and vulgarly known as "Daphne odora." It is to this, plant we intend more particularly to confine our attention.
It is a green-house evergreen shrub, attaining the height of about four feet, remarkable for its long, dark, glossy, green leaves, and its terminal bunches of fragrant, white flowers. It is one of the few old-fashioned plants which the modern rage for novelties has not driven entirely out of cultivation.
It has only been thrust into the corners, and left to make its merits known by its beauty and fragrance. It is one of our most popular flowers, and as a window plant is unsurpassed, flourishing and blooming in situations where most plants would dwindle and die. It looks best when planted near outdoor statues (http://www.garden-fountains.com/Detail.bok?no=1063) or water features.
With gardeners it is no favorite, because, as they say, it is too straggling, and does not form a neat plant. In some respects this assertion is true, for it is impossible to bring into good shape a plant of this variety when once neglected; but by beginning with a young, healthy plant, much may be done, and fine specimens formed.
Let it be remembered that the daphne "breaks" easily. Prune the plant to a bare stump, and in a few weeks buds will start from all the younger wood; therefore prune severely; never allow a branch to remain where it is not wanted, let it be as vigorous or luxuriant
as it may, and never be afraid of pruning for fear of losing the flowers.
The cultivation of the greenhouse varieties of this plant is almost identical with that of the camellia; the same temperature will do for both. The plants should have plenty of pot room, and the pots be well drained.
Potting should generally be done in the fall, about the time the plants are housed, when as much of the old soil should be removed as possible without disturbing the roots. The principal varieties are : Daphne odorata, the most valuable variety from its season of flowering, which is from December to March, according to the degree of heat given; leaves oblong, lanceolate, smooth; flowers white or pinkish, in terminal heads, produced in great profusion. Introduced from China about A. D. 1770. Propagated by cuttings with great ease. It is one of the best parlor plants we know of, and may be obtained at any greenhouse at a very trifling expense.
D. odorata nibra is a superior, and by no means common variety; buds, red; flowers, rosy, red, with a powerful spicy fragrance. It is a somewhat stronger grower than the last and will easily overshadow any garden statuary (http://www.garden-fountains.com/Detail.bok?no=2919) if it is not regularly trimmed.
There is also a variety with variegated foliage, which is no less desirable, though rather scarce. Daphne hybrida is a pretty evergreen shrub, hardy in England, but too tender to endure our winters without protection; flowers purple, produced in terminal heads and in lateral bunches very freely, and possessing an agreeable fragrance. It blooms at all seasons of the year, but especially from January to April. The soil should be four parts loam, two of leaf mould, and one of sand.
It is a green-house evergreen shrub, attaining the height of about four feet, remarkable for its long, dark, glossy, green leaves, and its terminal bunches of fragrant, white flowers. It is one of the few old-fashioned plants which the modern rage for novelties has not driven entirely out of cultivation.
It has only been thrust into the corners, and left to make its merits known by its beauty and fragrance. It is one of our most popular flowers, and as a window plant is unsurpassed, flourishing and blooming in situations where most plants would dwindle and die. It looks best when planted near outdoor statues (http://www.garden-fountains.com/Detail.bok?no=1063) or water features.
With gardeners it is no favorite, because, as they say, it is too straggling, and does not form a neat plant. In some respects this assertion is true, for it is impossible to bring into good shape a plant of this variety when once neglected; but by beginning with a young, healthy plant, much may be done, and fine specimens formed.
Let it be remembered that the daphne "breaks" easily. Prune the plant to a bare stump, and in a few weeks buds will start from all the younger wood; therefore prune severely; never allow a branch to remain where it is not wanted, let it be as vigorous or luxuriant
The cultivation of the greenhouse varieties of this plant is almost identical with that of the camellia; the same temperature will do for both. The plants should have plenty of pot room, and the pots be well drained.
Potting should generally be done in the fall, about the time the plants are housed, when as much of the old soil should be removed as possible without disturbing the roots. The principal varieties are : Daphne odorata, the most valuable variety from its season of flowering, which is from December to March, according to the degree of heat given; leaves oblong, lanceolate, smooth; flowers white or pinkish, in terminal heads, produced in great profusion. Introduced from China about A. D. 1770. Propagated by cuttings with great ease. It is one of the best parlor plants we know of, and may be obtained at any greenhouse at a very trifling expense.
D. odorata nibra is a superior, and by no means common variety; buds, red; flowers, rosy, red, with a powerful spicy fragrance. It is a somewhat stronger grower than the last and will easily overshadow any garden statuary (http://www.garden-fountains.com/Detail.bok?no=2919) if it is not regularly trimmed.
There is also a variety with variegated foliage, which is no less desirable, though rather scarce. Daphne hybrida is a pretty evergreen shrub, hardy in England, but too tender to endure our winters without protection; flowers purple, produced in terminal heads and in lateral bunches very freely, and possessing an agreeable fragrance. It blooms at all seasons of the year, but especially from January to April. The soil should be four parts loam, two of leaf mould, and one of sand.
