Darrell Blackwelder

March 2, 2006

     With warm weather fast approaching, many are becoming anxious for spring blooms. However, as I look around the county, many flowering trees and shrubs such as the deciduous magnolias and some cherries have been damaged by cold weather. However there is a spring flowering shrub with a beautiful fragrance that withstands our bouts of cold. The shrub I am speaking of is Daphne odora or winter daphne. During my tenure as an undergraduate student at Clemson University, I had a horticulture professor that absolutely adored the shrub so much he proclaimed “I would buy this wonderful shrub every year if necessary to have it in my garden.”                   

     Daphne is a very attractive sparsely-branched, evergreen shrub, reaching about 3 feet in height and spread. The most common variety, "Aureomarginata", has leaves with a narrow, erratic yellow margin. The plant produces terminal clusters of small flowers in March that are crystalline white inside, deep purplish-pink outside.  Daphne’s bloom is most noted for its strong and delicious scent, possibly the most delightful scent of any flower. The scent of daphne is very similar to Osmanthus fragrans, which blooms in the fall.

     Fortunately, the flower clusters keep well in water adding a welcome breath of spring to our homes or offices. This plant is best located near a well travelled path or an outdoor courtyard where its fragrance can be conveniently appreciated.

     The plant is not the easiest to grow, however, many have mastered its cultural requirements. The shrub does not appreciate soils with poor drainage. Ideally, a deep, well-drained woodland soil with plenty of humus is best for this shrub. It can tolerate sun or shade but does best in a protected area of full sun. The plant needs to be carefully irrigated during periods of drought.   The plant does not heal well over cuts into mature wood so t pruning is best avoided. However, "pinching" or taking cuttings from the tips of long shoots on the current year's growth makes the plant much bushier and more floriferous.                  Cuttings can be difficult to root; however, Master Gardeners have been able to successfully propagate the plant. The plant sells quickly at the Annual Master Gardener Plant Swap and Sale.

Darrell Blackwelder is an agricultural agent in charge of horticulture with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in Rowan County. For archived garden columns or other information, visit the Rowan County Master Gardener web site at www.rowanmastergardener.com , e-mail Darrell_Blackwelder@ncsu.edu