Garden shrubs – Daphne

This is one of those huge families that look quite different depending on which branch of them you’re peering at – more like chameleons than the Mallen Streak, if you like! To start with, there are both deciduous and evergreen forms of daphne and the plants might have originated from Europe, Asia or North Africa – meaning different plants might have quite different horticultural needs. Then, the size of this winter-flowering shrub can vary from alpine type plants suitable for a rockery, to larger, more upright plants suitable for a woodland garden or shrub border. So let’s pick a few really good varieties for different purposes:

• D. laureola, the spurge laurel, is native to the UK and therefore remarkably easy to grow. While it isn't the most spectacular plant, the polished evergreen leaves make it an ideal candidate for ground cover in shady areas where not much else will do well, and the very sweet perfume from its demure green flowers is particularly welcome in late winter and early spring
• D.x burkwoodii is unusual in that its an early summer-flowering, rather than winter flowering, plant. It can grow to about five feet, and in mild winters it will remain evergreen. Varities may have purple-pink flowers that are paler on the outside, or white flowers and one has variegated leaves.
• D. odora is lovely. Hailing from China and Japan, it grows slowly to around four to five feet, and produces purple-red flowers during early spring. The narrow leaves have either a yellow or cream edge. It isn't particularly hardy, so you should grow it in a container and over-winter it in a conservatory in cold areas. Branches from the plant will fill the greenhouse or any other room with fragrance during February.
• D. tangutica, especially the Retusa Group, are evergreen, flowering in May and June, before producing red berries and they are ideal small daphnes for the rockery
• D. cneorum is also a popular rockery plant, with its prostrate habit, and large clusters of strongly scented flowers in April and May. It can be a difficult plant to establish, although, unlike some daphnes, it accepts a limey soil but once settled it’s fully evergreen.

Daphne photograph by atsidoshouse, used under a creative commons attribution licence

 

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