Daphnes 2008-2009

[Michael J Campbell]

David,you can pinch it now to get a better shape, but I don't think that you will have much luck with rooting the cuttings. Jacqueline is not very obliging when it comes to putting on roots. Try semi hardwood cutting now but don't expect too much. If they do root leave them until spring before potting on. As to the pinching to shape,sometimes they don't branch out as one would expect, and you will probably be pinching out some of next springs flowers. Sorry for all the pessimism but Daphne's are not easy.

Cheers,

Michael.

[Paddy Tobin]

David,

That is certainly a good recovery for your daphne. Good luck with it now as it is a wonderful plant, fantastic scent.

Michael,

Re daphne cuttings: what of taking up suckers from D. 'Jacqueline Postill'? Is there any success with this? I have tried a few times to lift suckers and have dug down carefully along the line of the shoot and, despite going to a good depth, failed to come on any roots. Any comments?

Paddy

[Michael J Campbell]

Paddy, I have never had success with Jacqueline Postill other than grafting unto Longilobata or Mezereum. If there is any other method I have not discovered it yet. Even if you did get some roots on the suckers they would not survive the transplanting. It is an easy plant when it has settled down in the garden but difficult to reproduce a decent size and good shaped plant.

cheers

[David Nicholson]

Many thanks Michael, I think I shall leave my plant as it is and just await the flowers next year (I hope!)

[Michael J Campbell]

David, you can prune it immediately after it flowers which is the best time, then all the new growth made will flower the following spring.

[ruweiss]

Daphne tangutica flowered and sets seeds now for a second time with even more
seeds than at the first time.

[Giles]

Daphne x eschmannii 'Jakob Eschmann'
Daphne x mantensiana 'Audrey Vockins'
Daphne jasminea (Delphi Form)

[David Nicholson]

Very nice indeed Giles.


By the way there is a paragraph in the new edition of 'The Garden' about red spider mites. Not too helpful, I would imagine, but it's there!

[Giles]

Thankyou, David.
I only had a quick flick through when it arrived, and had missed it.
I had looked at the RHS website 'Advice' section and found some stuff there too.
They're all dead now  

[Lesley Cox]

Of my two Daphne petraea 'Persabee,' the one in the tunnel is leggy and drawn (though with buds) even though the tunnel is knitted fabric rather than plastic, and so sun, air and wind get in. But the one which is out in all weathers is PACKED with buds, all very tight and hard. A picture in due course. They came from Merv Holland near Christchurch and I can't speak too highly of his daphnes - for those in NZ - super plants, beautifully produced and at extremely reasonable prices, even, one might say, CHEAP!

[Lesley Cox]

Those are beautiful fruit on D. tangutica. I must pay more attention to mine and perhaps hand pollinate to encourage more fruit.

[Ragged Robin]

Seeing David's success with his Daphne, after a worrying time when it was sick, is a real story of gardening patience with plants and the pleasure it can bring to see them flourish. The Daphnes posted here look so good I can almost smell their scent and to have flower and fruit extends the overall delight throughout the year. Thanks for posting 'a glimpse' everyone.

[ruweiss]

Lesley, I would recommend you to be patient with your Daphne tangutica. In my experience it needs a certain degree
of matureness to set a reliable amount of seeds.Of course the weather is another factor, it must be warm, that all the
friendly insects can fly. Good luck!

[Giles]

Daphne bholua 'Rupina La'
Daphne cneorum 'Lac des Gloriettes'
Daphne jezoensis (flatly refuses to open) - from Ireland 
Daphne x burkwoodii 'Briggs Moonlight'
Daphne pontica 'Variegata'

[Ragged Robin]

Daphne bholua 'Rupina La'
Daphne cneorum 'Lac des Gloriettes'
Daphne jezoensis (flatly refuses to open) - from Ireland 
Daphne x burkwoodii 'Briggs Moonlight'
Daphne pontica 'Variegata'

Lovely Daphnes Giles (keep wondering how your Magnolia plantation is settling in too!) What a lovely range of form and colour the D. cneorum 'Lac des Gloriettes' is really cute and I love the variagated leaves on your Daphne x burkwoodii 'Briggs Moonlight' - imagine it has quite good scent too with the burkwoodii heritage