Daphne ... Thymelaeaceae

[Rory]

I've been growing Daphne for many years now and I struggle with this plant.
I am wondering if anyone here is growing them successfully, and if so how do you go about this?
I chose them because of their highly fragrant perfume.

In my area they seem to just grow so slowly that its almost painful. I think I've had a few cm growth over each year maybe?
The material I started with were 3 starter plants, probably a few years old and a few cm thick.
I've tried different mediums, heavy/light, but it doesn't seem to make any difference.

[Marie Hewartson]

Hi Rory,
My Mother was a Daphne lover and over the years brought at least 8 young and mature plants up from Melbourne to Brisbane.
NOT ONE survived, I think they only grow well in Melbourne.

Cheers
Marie

[Matthew]

mine grow amazingly strong in the garden . They need a temperate climate with a cold period to do well. They do not like been too dry and hot winds will burn them very easily

[Rory]

Hi Rory,
My Mother was a Daphne lover and over the years brought at least 8 young and mature plants up from Melbourne to Brisbane.
NOT ONE survived, I think they only grow well in Melbourne.

Cheers
Marie

Hi Marie, long time no hear. I was wondering maybe you didn't get my email reply a while ago wanting to see more of your work.
I still love seeing emails of your pots, or updates here cause I know everyone would love to see your awesome work.

Thank you for the info about Daphne. Their fragrance is just amazing, and my daughter loves them. So I'm growing them mainly for her.

mine grow amazingly strong in the garden . They need a temperate climate with a cold period to do well. They do not like been too dry and hot winds will burn them very easily

Oh, okay, thanks for the info. I'll just leave mine to slowly grow then. Nothing eats them, and they appear very healthy...they just grow so slowly.

[rodm]

Hi Rory,
Not tried to do anything with Daphne’s, mainly due to the fact that I think they’re a tad difficult.
They don’t like: roots disturbed
being prune too much
They are slow growing. But can live in clay type soil, with little water.
We moved into our home 2 years ago and there is a well established daphne, a bit protected; it get very little attention. Even in our heat wave and drought still looks good. But I won’t go and upset it.
Cheers RodM

[MJL]

If it helps ... I was at my Dad's earlier this week. His Daphne (not bonsai but mature in small pots) were flourishing.

They were flourishing alongside his cymbidium orchids which are also going coco bananas; coco bananas is a technical term for flower spikes everywhere!

Anyway Matthew's advice in this thread rings true to me. Temperate with a cold period to do well. Winter sun is fine - the more light the better - hot sun and wind is not ideal.

(caveat -- I am no expert - above are just observations).

[Marie Hewartson]

Hello again Rory,
I forgot to say my Mother also tied Daphne in Northern NSW with no luck there also, really must need the cooler climate.
Re replying, sorry, have been very involved in the BSQ Bonsai Horizons event. (Ran two pot making workshops). For our first effort it was amazingly succussful, so look out for the next one in March next year.
Just started to make pots again now.
Cheers
Marie