
How to care for a Daphne plant?
1 Light. While some varieties of Daphne do fine in full sun, most will bloom best in part shade conditions. ... 2 Soil. Daphnes prefer well-drained soil with plenty of compost and a slightly acidic soil pH. ... 3 Water. In the first year of growth, water your shrub several times a week. ... 4 Temperature and Humidity. ... 5 Fertilizer. ...
What do I Feed my Daphne Bush?
What do I feed my daphne bush? Like Back Q. Hi, our daphne bush which was planted 2 years ago has numerous flowers forming, but also looks as if it needs 'feeding'. Please can you advise what we should use? Many thanks, Lynn. A. Daphne’s prefer a slightly acidic soil, therefore feed your bush with Tui Acid Food.
Are there different types of Daphne plants?
Lovely to look at and enticingly fragrant, daphne is a delightful landscape shrub. You can find daphne plant types to suit most any need, from shrub borders and foundation plantings to stand-alone specimens. Find out about the different daphne plant types and how to care for them in this article.
Can you plant Daphne with pets?
You should never plant daphne shrubs where pets or children play. Another potential problem with daphne is that it is known to die suddenly and seemingly without cause. Because of this tendency, you should think of it as a temporary plant. Place the shrub in areas where you can easily remove and replace it as it becomes necessary.

What is the best feed for daphne?
A. Daphne's prefer a slightly acidic soil, therefore feed your bush with Tui Acid Food. Coffee grounds are useful too - add around the base of the plant. Next drench with Seasol seaweed based plant tonic to give the roots a boost and help improve the overall health of the plant.
What do you fertilize daphne with?
Fertilizer. Daphne shrubs should be fertilized twice a year using a granular balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10). February or March and July are good times to do this.
When should I feed my daphne?
Feeding daphne A controlled-release fertiliser for acid-loving plants should be applied twice a year, in early spring and early autumn. This can be supplemented with a water-soluble plant food, again for acid lovers, from mid-spring to late summer to keep plants healthy.
How do you treat yellow leaves on daphne?
An application of seaweed extract every 2-4 weeks will act as a tonic and root growth stimulant. Yellowing leaves and leaves falling off does indicate poor drainage so now that you are watering less frequently hopefully the health of your daphne will improve.
Is blood and bone good for daphne?
Don't use artificial fertilisers on daphne. Some blood and bone is all right. Mulch the plant with compost or well-rotted manure. This should be applied when the bush has finished flowering.
Does daphne like Epsom salts?
Let daphne dry out slightly between waterings or, if drainage is poor, plant in a raised bed. Yellow leaves can be a sign of magnesium deficiency. Correct by spraying the plant with 20g of Epsom salts mixed with one litre of water. Aphids and scale can attack the plant and lead to sooty mould.
Why are my daphne leaves going yellow?
Yellowing of daphne leaves could be the result of root damage through poor drainage or drought but could also be iron deficiency brought on by lime in the soil. Don't plant them in soil that has had lime added or near a relatively new concrete drive or path, as lime from concrete can adversely affect them.
How often should I water my daphne?
People think that daphne love to be moist all the time, but you should just water the daphne and let it dry out. Use mulch to keep the roots cool. If daphnes are over or under watered, it causes them great stress and that's when insects like scale attack.
How do you revive daphne?
How to Revive a Daphne Carol MackieCheck the surrounding area. ... Pull up any weeds that are growing around the base of the shrub. ... Dig down about 6 inches into the soil near the shrub to check the soil moisture. ... Prune out any diseased or dead branches. ... Spread a 2-inch layer of compost over the root zone in the spring.More items...
Does daphne need ericaceous compost?
Daphne requires a sheltered position in an ericaceous soil and do not require pruning.
Is a daphne plant acid loving?
Your soil pH level should be between 5.5 and 6.4. Daphne is an acid-loving plant that thrives in soil that is more acidic than a pH level 7, which is neutral. For best results with this prolific bloomer, purchase and conduct a soil test according to the package instructions. This is easy to do and inexpensive.
Why is my daphne dropping its leaves?
Daphne will often drop leaf as a result of the stress of being 'lifted' from the field or transplanting. Getting them through their first season is the key and by their second season they will often burst into leaf and flower from a sad looking framework of sticks…. so don't dispare!
Is a daphne plant acid loving?
Your soil pH level should be between 5.5 and 6.4. Daphne is an acid-loving plant that thrives in soil that is more acidic than a pH level 7, which is neutral. For best results with this prolific bloomer, purchase and conduct a soil test according to the package instructions. This is easy to do and inexpensive.
What is the best fertilizer for daphne Australia?
Daphnes, either in the garden or in pots, are rewarding plants, but there are a few things that can go wrong. Look out for leaves that are light green, and that hang down. This indicates the plant might need a feed. After it has finished flowering, give it some fertiliser, especially iron chelates.
Why are the leaves on my daphne turning yellow?
Yellowing of daphne leaves could be the result of root damage through poor drainage or drought but could also be iron deficiency brought on by lime in the soil. Don't plant them in soil that has had lime added or near a relatively new concrete drive or path, as lime from concrete can adversely affect them.
Is Dynamic Lifter good for daphne?
How to grow daphne in your garden. Choose a sunny spot in the garden that receives afternoon shade and prepare the planting area well by digging in Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.
What do I feed my daphne bush?
Hi, our daphne bush which was planted 2 years ago has numerous flowers forming, but also looks as if it needs 'feeding'. Please can you advise what we should use? Many thanks, Lynn.
What do I feed my daphne bush? Comments
Hi Tui Team Have a lime tree which has grown rapidly but it bears no fruit your expert advice please. Regards, Tony
What kind of soil do daphnes like?
Soil. Daphnes prefer well-drained soil with plenty of compost and a slightly acidic soil pH. Daphne shrubs thrive in moist soil. To keep the soil around them moist in summer (and to keep the roots cool), apply a three-inch layer of mulch.
Where do daphnes grow?
The Daphne genus includes more than 70 broadleaf evergreen shrubs native to Europe, Asia, and Africa. Of these, a relatively small number of species and hybrids are commonly grown ...
How far can daphne spread?
Its trailing branches can spread to about 3 feet. This Daphne shrub is covered with flowers in the spring. By covering the stems with mulch after the flowers fade, you will encourage new rooting. Some common varieties include ' Eximia', 'Pgymaea Alba', and ' Variegata'.
How tall does a daphne shrub get?
odora): This species and its cultivars have the most powerful fragrance. It grows to about 4 feet tall with narrow, glossy leaves. This type is the most likely to die without an obvious cause.
When do daphnes bloom?
The flowers bloom in late winter and ' Aureo-Marginata' is a popular winter Daphne shrub, distinguished by its variegated leaves. Garland daphne (D. cneorum): This is a low grower, reaching less than 1 foot tall when fully mature. It's a popular choice for rock gardens and adding interest to the edging of pathways.
Do daphnes transplant well?
Daphne Care. Daphne is not the easiest of shrubs to grow. They do not transplant well, and the grower is required to maintain a delicate balance between keeping the soil moist and keeping it well-drained. These plants are known to die suddenly and without an obvious cause.
Is daphne a good shrub?
Daphnes are relatively small shrubs that are good choices for small yards, where they make good foundation plants or specimens for shrub borders. Featured Video. These are slow-growing shrubs that are generally planted from well-developed nursery plants in spring.
What zone do winter daphnes grow in?
Daphne plants, also called winter daphne or fragrant daphne, are short-lived evergreen shrubs that grow in USDA hardiness zones 7 -9. Gardeners often complain that growing winter daphne is difficult. Follow these suggestions for successful growth and blooms on your daphne bushes.
How tall is a winter daphne?
The shrub reaches no more than 4 feet (1 m.) in height and usually grows to just 3 feet (1 m.) high and the same in width. Lightly branched, the form of growing winter daphne is open and airy. Foliage is shiny green, simple and attractive.
When do winter daphne blooms bloom?
The right care for winter daphne encourages the fragrant blooms, as does growing winter daphne in the right spot. Botanically called Daphne odora, pink buds emerge in February to March, becoming clusters of fragrant, tubular blooms.
What is a daphne?
Daphnes are generally neat, compact plants that are at home in dappled shade. Daphne species vary in habit - some are erect, while others are rounded or even spreading. The showy rounded heads of the small flowers open from mid-winter to late spring, depending on the species, and they can be in delicate shades of white, cream, yellow or pink. Daphne odora has pink and white flowers and there is a variegated form with white flowers, and they're all fragrant.
Why are my daphne leaves dry?
Another problem that daphnes have is the leaves suddenly hanging down limply, and feeling leathery and dry . Most often, this is also caused by over watering.
How many species of daphne are there?
In the cooler parts of Southern Australia, Daphne odora is a plant that captures the imagination of gardeners because of its fragrance, but there are 50 different species of daphne throughout the world - some are deciduous and others are evergreen. Daphnes are generally neat, compact plants that are at home in dappled shade.
What causes scales on daphnes?
If daphnes are over or under watered, it causes them great stress and that's when insects like scale attack. Scale looks like little brown or black dots that appear on the leaves, their undersides, and the stems. Underneath the scale's protective helmet is an insect. Just squash them, or smother the scale with white oil or canola oil.
Do daphnes like the sun?
Daphnes like morning sun or an easterly-facing spot - anywhere that's got shade from the hot afternoon sun. Don't forget really good drainage is also important.
Do daphnes get viruses?
About 20 years ago, there was a daphne virus, but, with proper hygiene and better plant propagation methods, rarely do you get virus in daphne. People think that daphne love to be moist all the time, but you should just water the daphne and let it dry out. Use mulch to keep the roots cool.
What is a daphne plant?
Daphne Plant Types: Growing Daphne Plants In The Garden. Lovely to look at and enticingly fragrant, daphne is a delightful landscape shrub. You can find daphne plant types to suit most any need, from shrub borders and foundation plantings to stand-alone specimens.
What zone do daphnes grow in?
Daphne grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 or 5 to 9, but check the type you want to grow since there is a lot of variation from plant to plant. It needs a location with full sun or partial shade and moist soil. Well-drained soil is a must.
How tall does Garland Daphne grow?
Garland daphne ( D. cneorum) is a low grower that reaches heights of less than a foot, making it ideal for rock gardens and edging pathways. The trailing branches spread about three feet. Covered with flowers in the spring, you can cover the stems with mulch after the flowers fade to encourage rooting.
What is the challenge of growing daphne?
One challenge of growing daphne plants is choosing a type. There are several varieties of daphne, and these are the most commonly grown and easily available:
Can you prune a daphne plant?
If you can live with these two drawbacks, you’ll find that caring for daphne plants is not difficult. Grown as an informal shrub , it doesn’t need pruning, and this makes the plant practically carefree.
Is daphne poisonous?
Before you decide that this fragrant beauty is just what you want, there are a couple of things you should know about daphne. First of all, the plant is poisonous. In fact, it is so toxic that chewing on the flowers, foliage, or red berries can be fatal.
Can a daphne plant die?
Another potential problem with daphne is that it is known to die suddenly and seemingly without cause. Because of this tendency, you should think of it as a temporary plant. Place the shrub in areas where you can easily remove and replace it as it becomes necessary.
What is a daphne shrub?
Scented daphne shrubs (evergreen or deciduous, depending on the variety) will fill a shady or sunny hole in the garden with a compact, rounded shape and glossy leaves. Look for winter-blooming cultivars to add color and fragrance to a drab season.
When do daphnes bloom?
With nearly 100 species of species of scented daphnes to choose among, you can enjoy the flowers’ spicy scent from spring through winter (most common are winter-blooming varieties). But be warned: In any season, this is a temperamental shrub.
Do daphnes need pruning?
Now for the easy part: daphnes don’t require pruning, as they grow, their branches naturally form loose, symmetrical globes. Many species are evergreen and will add structure and texture to an otherwise drab winter corner.
