Plant of the Month: February

Daphne bholua 'Jacqueline Postill' Family: Thymelaeaceae Vital statistics Height and spread: 2m by 1m (5.5ft by 3ft) Form: Evergreen shrub Soil: Moderately fertile, humus-rich, well drained soil. Aspect: Full shade to open. Hardiness: Hardy in some areas, need frost-free protection in winter.

Daphne bholua 'Jacqueline Postill' @ Hyde Hall

We have several examples of Daphne bholua 'Jacqueline Postill' growing at Hyde Hall, but the finest is situated in front of the house in the Farmhouse Garden. This is a sheltered south facing area and on crisp sunny winter days when the temperature rises a little this Daphne can be found wafting its fine and delicate fragrance over a large area. If you are planting winter flowering shrubs in your garden, and particuarly ones with a fine fragrance, it is well worth planting them adjacent to your front path or near your back door, so their assets can be fully appreciated, even on a cold winters day when you may not want to venture too far out into the garden.

Daphne

Daphnes as a genus consist of about 50 deciduous, semi-evergreen and evergreen species, from Europe, North Africa and Asia. Their natural habitats range from lowland woodlands to mountains.  Plants at higher altitudes in its native range are often deciduous whilst plants from lower altitudes are evergreen but less hardy.

Daphnes are invariably grown for their delightfully fragrant flowers, which most have in abundance, but some are grown for their foliage, fruit or upright, rounded or prostrate habit. 

There are many species and varieties in cultivation, and some are at their best in the depths of winter, when there is little else to compete with. Of the deciduous varieties D. bholua var. glacialis 'Gurkha' displays pink flushed white flowers. Another daphne that flowers without the obstruction of leaves is D. mezereum, or Mezereon as it is sometimes called. A flush of colour appears in late winter through into early spring before the leaves begin to grow. The purplish-pink blooms, or white in the case of D. mezereum f. alba, cover the spreading stems that can reach up to 1.2m (4ft).  

Daphne odora is a rounded evergreen shrub and another wonderfully scented example that flowers in the winter and early spring.  It has clusters of white flowers edged with carmine and darkly glossy evergreen leaves. The cultivar 'Aureomarginata' AGM has leaves with narrow, irregular yellow margins.

There are many other types of daphne including D. tangutica, D. sericea, D. pontica, D. retusa and D. patraea 'Grandiflora', some of which have been awarded the AGM.  The hardiness varies as well as the leaf retention, flowering period and shade tolerance.

Daphnes grow well in borders or in woodland settings and once planted do not like to be moved.  They will also perform well in containers. To gain the maximum pleasure from growing daphnes, plant them near paths and buildings where both the sight and scent of their flowers can be easily admired and appreciated.     

The inner bark of the daphne can be used to make good quality paper, and rope. 

All parts of the plant are poisonous and skin contact with the sap can cause dermatitis in some people.

Daphne bholua 'Jacqueline Postill'

D. bholua 'Jacqueline Postill' is an evergreen shrub that flowers from January to April. The highly fragrant, pretty, star-shaped blooms are pink on the outside and white within, and they blanket the leaf-clad stems through the harshest winter months. The flowers are hermaphrodite, and are pollinated by bees, flies, moths and butterflies, but in the Britain the flowering season means that few fruits are produced, as insect activity is low.

This cultivar has showy purplish-pink tubular blossom, very scented, and it is hardier than most, although it likes a sheltered spot with well-drained soil. 

Its native region stretches from East Asia to the Himalayas, in clearings in oak and rhododendron forests and shrubberies to 3100 metres.  It prefers woodland, dappled shade and shady edges.

D. bholua is said to be hardy to about -5°C, and plants succeed outdoors in southern England, but are defoliated in severe winters. A very variable and very ornamental species, the cultivars 'Ghurka' (deciduous) and 'Jacqueline Postill' (evergreen) are hardier than the type.

AGM

The RHS Floral B Committee awarded Daphne bholua 'Jacqueline Postill' an Award of Garden Merit and described it as:

More or less evergreen medium-sized shrub of erect habit with leathery oblanceolate leaves. Highly fragrant purplish-pink and white flowers in terminal clusters. Berries black

Cultivation

Daphne bholua prefers a cool lime-free well-drained sandy loam and a sunny position. It succeeds in neutral soils and tolerates partial shade. Plants also succeed in quite deep shade. At least some forms, especially the sub-species D. bholua glacialis tolerate alkaline soils. It flowers well when grown in dry shade, and likes plenty of moisture in the growing season. It grows well in London, tolerating the atmospheric pollution. Plants are resentful of root disturbance and should be planted into their permanent positions as soon as possible

Aphids, leaf spot, grey mould (botrytis) and viruses may be a problem.

Propagation

Seed is best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe with the pot sealed in a polythene bag to hold in the moisture. Remove this bag as soon as germination takes place. Germination should normally take place by spring, though it sometimes takes a further year. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. Grow the plants on in the greenhouse for their first winter and then plant out in spring after the last expected frosts.

Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel can be taken in June or July and put in a frame.

Propagation may also be achieved by the division of suckers or layering.