Daphne wins Australian Business Award
12 September 2011
So successful was the launch of a Daphne cultivar onto the Australian market in 2010, that it rewarded company Plants Management Australia winner of the 2011 Australian Business Award for best new product.
British-bred Daphne x transatlantica ETERNAL FRAGRANCE ‘Blafra’ was crossed and raised by Robin White, renowned nurseryman and Daphne specialist. It has been commercially available in the UK since 2000, but it was in 2003 when 50 rooted cuttings were sent to Australia and 49 had survived, that the cultivar proved its true potential.
Robin says; ‘It is a fantastic, fragrant, evergreen shrub that even if cut almost to the ground after flowering in spring would bloom again from summer to autumn. I am pleased that it has found recognition at last.’
This cultivar has large, sweet-smelling, white blooms, pink in bud, that are typical of the genus. It flowers on old wood in spring but also on new growth from July until October, greatly extending the season of interest. Also, unusually for most cultivated daphnes, it can survive drought and full sun. It has a rounded habit and grows to a height of 60cm (2ft).
In the UK two wholesale nurseries, Ashwood Nurseries and Wildside Nursery are increasing propagation by cuttings to provide plant retailers in this country.