Daphne bholua - fast germination!

[Martin Baxendale]

I was amazed today to find 2 pots of seed from Daphne bholua 'Jaqueline Postill' germinating just a month or so after I sowed them.

Every other daphne species I've raised from seed (mezereum, retusa, tangutica) needed to go through a winter before germinating. So when I spotted a load of seed on my biggest Jaqueline Postill last month, I sowed it expecting to see seedlings next spring. Couldn't believe it when I saw them popping up after just a month. Thought I must have muddled the labels. But I haven't. They're Daphe bholua alright.

Out of interest, anyone know if this is standard for D. bholua? Anyone found seed on it? First time I've seen seed in about the last ten years.

[Lesley Cox]

I've had seed of straight D. bholua, the only one I have, not any named clones, and yes, it does germinate very quickly if sown fresh, i.e.right away.

[Martin Baxendale]

I've had seed of straight D. bholua, the only one I have, not any named clones, and yes, it does germinate very quickly if sown fresh, i.e.right away.

I suppose it makes sense, given that D. bholua hails from much milder climatic conditions than most daphnes and wasn't considered very cold-hardy in the UK until our recent run of milder winters. I guess I just got used to thinking of it as completely hardy and forgot its origins, so the immediate germination took me by surprise. A pleasant surprise, though. It makes a nice change not to be hanging around for a year or two waiting to see what, if anything, comes up. Probably bodes well for the seedlings being fast growing and quick to mature and flower (I hope).

[Lesley Cox]

My seedlings grew to 30cms in a single year. I gave them all away except one, as I was about to move house at the time but the one I kept flowered in its fourth year.