The MGS Forum

Plants for mediterranean gardens => Trees and Shrubs => Topic started by: Alisdair on October 25, 2011, 11:17:50 AM

Title: Daphne
Post by: Alisdair on October 25, 2011, 11:17:50 AM
What daphnes do people find most suited to dry-summer mediterranean-climate gardens? Quite a few of the species grow around the Mediterranean basin.
For a picture of Daphne sericea growing wild in SW Turkey, click here (http://www.mgsforum.org/smf/index.php?topic=467.msg2768#msg2768).
Title: Re: Daphne
Post by: John on November 02, 2011, 12:10:07 AM
Daphne gnidioides is a very Mediterranean species here on the south coast of Crete. Literally on the coast at the back of the beach. Flowering in autumn.
Title: Re: Daphne
Post by: arj on February 28, 2019, 05:19:45 PM
In searching the forum topics for any information about Daphnes, I found this thread from 2011, I hope my question is appropriate here (this is my first time posting in the forum)  :)

I very much want to put a Daphne odora (winter daphne) in my urban rooftop garden in Palma de Mallorca, but one of the staff in a local garden store tried to discourage me, saying that Daphne odoras do not do well in Mallorca.

Can anyone share any experiences or suggestions regarding this particular plant in Mediterranean climates? It is its particular fragrance that I am after, it holds dear memories for me that I want need in my garden. Even if it is fragile or not a perfect match climate-wise, I want to try.

For context, my rooftop garden area is south-facing, gets full direct sun all day, but there are a few walls up against which some plants could get either a little morning shade or afternoon shade (depending on which side of the wall they are on). It can also get windy up here, but there are one or two semi-protective nooks here and there. All the plants up here are in large terra cotta containers, and the same would go for my beloved Daphne odora.

Thank you for any insights!
Title: Re: Daphne
Post by: Umbrian on March 01, 2019, 07:52:12 AM
I have a Daphne odorata growing successfully here in Umbria, Italy and the fragrance is filling the air at the moment and so I can fully appreciate your desire to try one. Mine is in the ground close to an old established Kaki tree that I inherited which means the soil is very rooty and dry in the summer although the canopy does afford some shade late in the day. After a slow start it has settled well and grown bigger than I would have imagined. Of course the surrounding vegetation will temper the heat more than a wall which will retain and reflect it . Roots in pots will also be subject to the heat more even if kept moist. I think you may well struggle to grow  that particular  Daphne with your prevailing conditions but  nothing ventured, nothing gained so if you are really keen why not give it a go? ....or try to search out the one mentioned by John in the original post on this thread - don't know if it is highly scented though as I forgot to,research it before starting this reply!
Title: Re: Daphne odora
Post by: Alisdair on March 01, 2019, 10:15:45 AM
I'm sure Carole's right about nothing ventured nothing gained: the late Hugo Latymer found that Daphne odora did well in Mallorca, but then he was a very good gardener - and grew it in garden conditions rather than in a rooftop pot. Daphne gnidioides is fragrant, but flowers later. It tends to be rather straggly or lanky. The rather similar D. gnidium, also Mediterranean, is more compact; but i think you'd find it difficult to track down a seller of either of them.
Out of curiosity I looked to see which daphnes Heidi Gildemeister (so experienced in gardening in Mallorca) had recommended for med gardening: answer, none.
Title: Re: Daphne
Post by: arj on March 04, 2019, 07:58:31 AM
Thank you so much, Carole and Alisdair, for your insights on my daphne quandary, I will hopefully be able to get to a nursery sometime this week and can investigate some of the varieties that you've mentioned, or re-route to a plan B if it really starts to look like a lost cause. I'll post updates here on my daphne ventures (or misadventures!)
Title: Re: Daphne
Post by: Hilary on March 04, 2019, 10:50:13 AM
I too must add my little bit about Daphne odora
Although I have not knowingly seen this plant or even have a garden I thought I would look through THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN SOCIETY journal's excellent index.
It came up with three references to Daphne odora
1
THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN number 3, Winter 1995/6, page 39
In an article named
Some Thoughts About Heidi Gildemeister’s  Suggestion of a Mediterranean Plant Finder by Hugo Latymer
I quote
“Over the years we have stocked ……..Daphne odora …. And many more interesting and suitable plants and have hardly sold one.” 
2
 THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN number 18, Autumn 1999, Page 24
In an article named
A MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN IN NORTH DEVON by Alasdair Forbes
I quote
“ Other shrubs grown against  the south wall include …. Daphne odora …. “
3
THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN number 38 October 2004, page 21
REFLECTIONS ON A FIRE GARDEN by Nancy Swearengen
She writes after her house and garden, in California,  were destroyed by a fire
I quote
“I was amazed by the restorative power of nature….. All kinds of plants reappeared ….Daphne odora ….”

Not much help really but since I had done the homework I thought I would pass it on
Title: Re: Daphne
Post by: arj on March 08, 2019, 01:51:04 PM
Thank you so much, Hilary, for sharing those article resources on daphnes from The Mediterranean Garden journal, it indeed helps provide good context for this adventure. I report that I have bitten the bullet and ordered one Daphne odora to be delivered next week, I'll let y'all know what happens! :D
Title: Re: Daphne
Post by: Fermi on November 11, 2019, 12:19:46 PM
Daphne caucasicum grown from AGS Seedex seed in 2013. I haven't tried it in the garden yet,
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: Daphne
Post by: Umbrian on August 16, 2020, 05:59:16 AM
Beautiful,Fermi - has it a strong scent?
Title: Re: Daphne
Post by: Fermi on August 17, 2020, 02:26:45 AM
I can't remember! But I don't think it was very strong - I'll try to remember to take a sniff when it flowers again this spring,
cheers
fermi