DAPHNE. Europe and Asia. A diverse group of shrubs, admired for many ornamental features. They have sturdy stems and usually thickly textured, oval to lance-shaped leaves, neatly distributed around the stems. However, they are most valued for clusters of waxy, 4-petalled, often fragrant blossoms. Sun or light shade near the coast, part shade inland, well drained, preferably acid soil, moderate watering. Those listed here should be hardy to around 0oF.
x burkwoodii ‘Somerset’. A roundish, closely branched shrub of about 4’, its twigs lined with narrowly oval, light green leaves and tipped in spring with clusters of fragrant blossoms, colored creamy white with a pink tinge. ‘Carol Mackie’ is a similar selection with yellow-margined leaves and white flowers. Semi-evergreen in mild climates, deciduous in cold climates.
caucasica ‘Leucanthe’. A rather dense, round shrub, growing around 4’ tall. The stems are closely set with light green 1" leaves. It blooms primarily in late spring in more severe climates but is seldom out of bloom in coastal gardens. Sweetly scented, white blossoms are borne in tight clusters at the shoot tips. It is virtually evergreen for us but deciduous in colder winters. Similar in habit but sporting cream-margined leaves, is ‘Summer Ice’. This is a recent introduction by Oregon State University, received from Neil Bell.
x mantensiana. A tidy small shrub, derived from D. retusa and D. x burkwoodii (itself already a hybrid), and recently received from Wayne Roderick. It is extremely dense and nearly spherical in form. The stiff, short stems are tightly packed with narrow, deep green leaves, ½-1" long. Almost in the manner of D. caucasica, it carries its clusters of fragrant blossoms from spring to fall. They are colored dark pink on the outer surface, pale pink within. It is clearly one of the touchier daphnes regarding soil drainage and excess moisture, but well worth some extra effort.
odora. Winter daphne. To most of the gardening public this is the daphne, though few can grow it well for long. It is a thick-stemmed shrub, growing slowly to around 4’, dressed with 2-4" narrowly oval, very shiny leaves. In late winter it bears small clusters of thick-textured, long-lasting, extremely fragrant blossoms shaded white to pink. ‘Leucanthe’ is by far the most vigorous and disease resistant selection I have seen. It has exceptionally lush, dark green foliage and clusters of cream-colored blossoms with pink backing borne all along the stems. ‘Marginata’ is an old favorite with yellow-margined leaves and flowers nearly identical to the last. Unfortunately it is considerably less vigorous and disease resistant. Evergreen.