Daphnes Only Hurt Ones Who Love Them

In the dead of winter, their flowers provide the promise of summer, and their aroma has been described as one step next to nirvana. But the ease - or lack thereof - in cultivating the daphne is a matter of debate.

A new book coming out this month and written by Robin White, "Daphnes: A Practical Guide for Gardeners" (Timber Press, $34.95), encourages gardeners to plant away, assuring us that all the rumors of cantankerous and finicky daphnes have been greatly exaggerated.

White, a nurseryman with more than 30 years experience in growing daphnes, instructs readers on growing and propagating daphnes. He says that daphnes have an unearned reputation for petulance.

"This book is by a grower of daphnes for the benefit of those who grow daphnes, to encourage those people who would like to grow daphnes," White writes in his preface, "and to spread the word far and wide that these rewarding plants can be grown without undue difficulty."

That's all well and good, says Bethallyn Black, urban horticulturist and Contra Costa, Calif.'s coordinator for the UC Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener program. But it might not be that easy.

Daphnes are a wonderful, gorgeous plant, one of only a few that actually thrive and bloom in winter. Their aroma is glorious, Black says. And while they may be grown easily certain parts of the world, daphnes prefer well-draining soil that has an acidic base to it.

"I love daphnes," Black says, "but they commit daphnicide at the drop of a hat."

The problem is, Black says, that the daphnes are highly susceptible to root rot. Over-water just once and you may doom your daphnes. They also require you to work the soil and add in redwood or fir to create acidic conditions.

They are best grown in a mound, in highly amended soil, nursery owners say. Daphnes do best when in large containers, where the soil can be regulated, and in the shade.

They aren't impossible to grow, however, Black says. By properly caring for them and monitoring the water, you may be able to coax daphnes into a long, healthful life.

"I've been in yards where they have daphnes as foundation plants," Black says, "and people look at me and ask `What's the problem? They're perfect.' But that's one garden out of 10,000."

"When you find someone who is successful in growing daphnes," Black says, "you just want to hug the people and say, `God, you're a good gardener.'"

Melody Howe Weintraub of Lafayette, Calif., is one of those gardeners Black might like to hug. About an eighth of her extensive garden is devoted to daphnes, and visitors often exclaim over the beauty and wonderful smell that wafts from the daphne beds.

It was Weintraub's gardener who recommended adding the daphnes about eight years ago. Weintraub doesn't know why the plants thrive in her yard, but she seems to have the perfect growing conditions.

She uses very little fertilizer in her garden and adds compost every year. And while her roses are her pride and joy, Weintraub says she enjoys seeing the sweet pink blooms. The daphnes usually begin blooming in late December and continue until spring. She's also had blooms later in the year.

The scent, which Black says is the best thing about daphnes, is subtle, Weintraub says.

"It's very nice, very sweet, delicate," Weintraub says. "It's not like you walk by and it overwhelms you. It's more like `Oh, I wonder what that is?' It's very pleasant."

The smell is often what lures in potential victims, Black says. Gardeners walk past daphne displays in nurseries and are attracted by the aroma.

"It needs to be an impulse purchase," Black says, "something to add to your garden and not part of the foundation. You can have daphnes that do good for years, then you go out one morning and they're dead overnight."

So, are they worth trying? Certainly, Black says, but you need to be a serious gardener, willing to spend time preparing the soil and monitoring the water. The rewards will be worth it, although Black warns that you'll probably have a lot of setbacks.

If you're determined to have flowering plants in the winter, Black recommends another overlooked plant: winter-blooming honeysuckle. The vine, like its summer-loving cousin, produces a sweet and subtle scent. Its flowers are small and don't make a splashy display, but the plant is more tolerant of a neglectful gardener.

TOP 5 REASONS TO GROW DAPHNES

-Daphnes have often been considered somewhat unpredictable and moody garden plants, though this reputation is undeserved. While some may require more attention to thrive than others, few are difficult to grow successfully in ordinary garden soil when given the same considerations as other shrubs (such as good drainage and adequate site preparation).

-The repeat-flowering habit of some hybrids and the increased availability of winter-flowering species allow you to have a daphne to smell most weeks of the year. As you acquire more daphnes, you will notice that many have subtly different fragrances, from sweet honey to spicy citrus.

-Do not be discouraged if your garden has alkaline soil. Some of the choicest daphne species, such as D. arbuscula and D. petraea, inhabit cliffs or rocky areas where little soil exists. Many of the smaller species and hybrids can be grown successfully in what may at first seem like a poor site.

-Daphnes can also grow well in clay or plastic pots, which means they can be kept outside for much of the year and brought into a conservatory, garden room, or porch for flowering. In winter and early spring, large plants of D. bholua, D. mezereum and D. adora can provide material for a vase. They will fill a warm room with their scent for a considerable time as their flowers open in succession.

-Daphnes are a joy in the late winter garden, with some species able to survive temperatures as low as -200 degrees. While hardiness of a plant can fluctuate with its growth cycles and where it is grown, choosing the right species for your climate can ensure the plant's survival.

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(c) 2006, Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.). Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service.