VARIETIES OF DAPHNE

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31178, 30 September 1966, Page 6

VARIETIES OF DAPHNE

Daphnes are everyone’s favourite and there are few gardens without one. At this time of the year the flowers are appearing and the air is filled with their scent. They are cut for decoration in the home and are often used for sprays and corsages. A daphne which is widely grown is Daphne odora in one of its numerous varieties. There is the variety “variegata," which has golden margins to the leaves so that it can provide interest even when not in flower.

The variety “Leucanthe” is much less straggly in growth than the species, being neater in appearance and more upright in growth; this variety is most commonly grown. There is a variety "rubra” and one “alba” which have pink and white flowers respectively.

Daphnes will tolerate a wide range of soil conditions but they like a well-drained soil that does not dry out during the summer. Their positioning in the garden causes some troubles. They will stand full exposure to the sun, providing the soil remains moist during the summer months. Probably light shade suits them best, especially in soils that are subject to drying out during the summer. Too dense shade should be avoided as this induces lush growth at the expense of flowering.

Plants are sold either as container grown or as balled plants and they need firm planting. A rich soil is not necessary and in fact such a soil is likely to delay flowering. An application of a hand-, ful of blood and bone after flowering each year should keep the bush healthy. Daphnes, like many other shrubs, respond to pruning. They have the tendency to straggle and regular pruning can help to keep them in shape. Old bushes that have never been pruned make less and less growth and flowering often decreases. Pruning should be carried out after flowering. If pruning old bushes cut back over a portion each year

over a period of two er three years. On young bushes where flowers are cut for decoration, this will be all the treatment necessary. Pests and Diseases They are subject to very few pest or diseases. The commonest pest is scale, and this is only likely to be troublesome on old and neglected bushes. Control can be achieved by spraying with malathion or white oil. Mosaic virus is very widespread and there are very few bushes in the country free of this disease. As with all virus diseases there is no control. It seems to cause the plant little trouble providing it is growing under good conditions. Occasionally, however, the bush declines in vigour and the leaves become extremely yellow and mottled. If this happens the bush should be replaced. The mosaic takes the form of mottling of the leaves with patches of lighter green.