Re: Daphne

Wow!  Nice present.  :)  I think Daphnes may be one of the 
world's great plants.  Actually it's little shrub rather than a 
perennial, but I always see them listed with perennials.  
Anyhow, I will guess that you got 'Carol Mackie', simply 
because it's the most common.  The leaves have a narrow creamy 
white margin.

I've found that Daphnes can be pretty fussy, but will grow like 
crazy if they are happy.  The one thing that characterizes all 
Daphnes I am familiar with are the incredibly fragrant flowers.  
I mostly love the texture of the foliage.  There is something 
extremely pleasing to me about it.  

Now for the tricky part.  Daphnes of the X burkwoodi cultivars 
(like Carol Mackie) will eventually get to be around 3 x 5'  
though they do vary.  They like fertile, humusy soil that is 
rich & well-drained.  They like their soil pretty close to 
neutral with some tolerance for *slightly* acid or alkaline.  
I've seen Daphnes grown in part- to full-sun.  They seemed 
equally happy.  It seems to me that the soil, water and drainage 
affect them more than amounts of sun (though I know there are 
some cultivars that demand low-sun conditions).  They don't want 
to dry out and very much like having cool roots and mulch.

When I say they are fussy ... they resent being transplanted but 
will really pout if they don't like where you put them.  Sort of 
a dilemma.  Also, it is not at all uncommon for healthy, mature 
plants to suddenly keel over dead.  Surprise.  

But I don't think I could be without at least a couple. 

You have very, very nice friends, Mary.  Someone knowledgeable 
about plants, willing to spend some non-trivial $, with good 
taste ... if that doesn't narrow the field, I think I'd like to 
meet your friends.  <G>  Happy Birthday.  hth,

Jaime

> Can someone tell me anything about a plant called Daphne? How to grow
> it? What kind of light,how much water,what kind of soil? Anything at
> all. Someone gave me one as a present.(I found it on my back porch and
> since it was on my birthday I figured it was a present. No name on
> it)Anything about Daphne would be helpful. Thank you, Mary
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jknoble@warwick.net
NW NJ, zone 6/5
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