Daphne
DAPHNE ( Daph’ne ) . Evergreen and leaf - losing shrub , many of them of dwarf growth , which bear attractive fragrant bloom . They belong to the Mezereum family , Thymelaeaceae . Many kinds are found wild in Europe and Asia , some of them in Alpine regions , others in low timberland . Some are absolutely audacious , but others are only worthy for outdoor refinement in the milder portion of North America . Daphne is commemorative of Daphne , the girl of the river god of Greek mythology , who , legend says , was transformed into a Laurel bush .
When to Sow Seed
Propagation vary allot to the different kinds . Whenever seeds can be secure they should be used . Seeds of all the hardy kinds may be sown , as soon as ripe , in flowerpot or flats in acompostof equal part fibrous loam , peat moss and sand . The pots or flats should be absorb in ashes in a cold frame in autumn and placed in a quick nursery inFebruarywhen germination will take place within a few calendar week .
Taking Cuttings and Layering
Some kinds , such as the fragrant - flowered D. odora , can be increase by cutting inserted in a warm and close propagating skeleton in leap . Several variety , e.g. D. Blagayana , D. Cneorum , D. retusa , D.pontica and D. Laureola can be raised from layers , and some of the rarefied form may be grafted on stock of D. Mezereum or D. Laureola , according to whether they are leaf - losing or evergreen plant . Grafting should be run out under glass during fountain . Root press clipping may be used to increase D. Genkwa .
Suitable Soil for Daphnes
The stronger - growing Daphne prosper in deep loamy soil , and dislike live and dry shape . Evergreens , such as D. pontica and D. Laureola , prosper in thin woodlands , andD.Mezereum also digest some shadiness .
Many of the gnome kinds are attend at their good in the rockgarden , but some are unmanageable to establish . D.Blagayana , a midget plant which spreads by means of hole-and-corner stems , flourish when growing in loamy soil among stone , whereas the reasonably pink , popularD.Cneorum , gives the best resolution in peaty soil .
The Mezereon and Others
D. Mezereum , the Mezereon of European woods , sometimes ground naturalized in easterly North America , is one of the earliest - blossom shrubs . develop 2 - 3 foot . high , it form a shapely bush without pruning . The fortunate - purple , fragrant flowersare freely bring about in late wintertime or early spring , in advance of the leaf , and they are keep abreast by bright red berry . There is a variety , alba , with whitened flowers and yellow berries and a variety , grandiflora , that blooms throughout wintertime in mild clime ; it has big , rosy - purple bloom .
Two evergreens , D. pontica andD.Laureola , grow 2 - 3 foot . high and peak in spring . The flowers are not , however , very attractive .
D. odora is a indigen of China and Japan ; it is stout in the warmer parts of North America , but in most other place requires the protection of a frost - proof greenhouse , where it is justly popular by reason of its attractive white , majestic - marked flowers which are very fragrant and borne throughout wintertime and saltation . D. Genkwa is a first-class , hardy , Japanese shrub . It uprise 2 - 4 ft . high , and bears fragrant , lilac - colored flowers in other spring in improvement of the leave .
A estimable intercrossed kind is D. Somerset ; it is of sizeable substance abuse , 5 foot . tall , evergreen plant where winters are not very severe , and has blush prime in May and early June .
Good kinds for the rock gardenare D. alpina , 6 - 18 in . high , bearing white , fragrant flowers in May and June , native of the European Alps ; D. Blagayana , a wide spreading plant found in the mountains of Eastern Europe , the flowers are creamy white and very fragrant ; D. Cneorum , of Central and Eastern Europe , an evergreen 9 - 12 in . mellow , with small folio and drop heads of fragrant , rose-colored - pinkish flowers in May , an exceedingly charming plant ; D. hybrida ( Dauphinii ) , a vigorous plant of loan-blend origination , D. odora being one parent , has flowers reddish - purple and fragrant ; D. retusa , a dwarf bush of dense , erect wont , with evergreen plant leaves and dense clusters of clean , royal - tinted flowers , borne in May , is a indigen of western China .
There are other sort that may be grown by those who want to try a broad selection . These include D. arbuscula , D. collina , D. oleoides , D. petraea ( rupestris ) , D. tangutica , all suitable for the rock garden .
Hardiest Kinds
Among those hardy at New York City or further north are D. Genkwa , D. alpina , D. petraea , D. Cneorum , D. Blagayana , and D. Somerset . The others mentioned are less hardy .
The bark of both roots and stems of some variety of Daphne has medicative dimension . D.Mezereum is one of the primary kinds used .
