THE POPULAR DAPHNE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 144, 20 June 1931, Page 7 (Supplement)

THE POPULAR DAPHNE

EVERYBODY’S FLOWERS. Daphnes arc the most-prized of dwarf growing shrubs for winter and spring flowering. They are everybody’s flow ers and are found in most gardens. They require a well-drained, free, loamy soil A mixture of volcanic soil, turfy loan and a little sand incorporated with th< soil when first planting is ideal. Afte. first planting the young, healthy, well rooted plants they may be allowed t( grow into permanent flowering shiubs The roots must not be interfered witl when digging near tnem. An annua top-dressing during the summer witl some well-rotted manure is helpful t< old-established flowering plants. Cut ting the flowers provides sufficient prun ing. Daphne odora, the white variety, is t general favourite. Daphne odora rubra the pink-flowered variety, is a strongci grower and on that account more gener ally planted. The flowers of both varie ties are sweetly scented. Daphne Gen kwa produces a profusion of lilac flowers before the leaves appear in- the spring. There are several other hard} varieties. The variety aneorum (tht garland flower), an evergreen hard} trailing shrub, bears its flow’ers in clus ters and is a valuable rock-gardei plant. Daphne laureola (the spurgi laurel), is an evergreen shrub, the ber lies of which arc very poisonous. Prime lia longifolia (the New Zealand daphne is a pretty little shrub. It has sweetly scented white flowers sometimes tingec with rose.