Jeepers!! As Daphne Blake’s colleague, Fred Jones, might say, “Looks like we’ve got another mystery on our hands.” What got into this Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’?! It rarely performs so well here, particularly so soon after being planted into a new landscape. This particular specimen, and about three others nearby, were planted as they finished bloom less than a year ago.
Since their season began, I have been commenting to those who share pictures of theirs, that such healthy and prolifically blooming daphne is enviable to those of us who do not live within a climate that is favorable to such performance. I know that this diminutive floral truss is not exactly exemplary compared to those of other regions, but for this region, it is almost spectacular.
The aroma is exquisite! It is everything that the rest of us grow daphne for, and is enhanced by the delightful but unseasonably clear and warm weather. Surroundings forests dampened by rain almost a month ago maintain just enough humidity for the fragrance to disperse. If it were not such a distinct fragrance, I would be wondering where it is originating. It is so unexpected.
Those in other regions believe that we can grow a more extensive variety of species here where winters are relatively mild. For some, that might be true. However, there are many climactic factors that limit what can be grown in every region. Species that require sustained chill in winter are not very happy here. For daphne, minimal humidity might be what they dislike locally.
Perhaps daphne happens to be happy in the particular location, next to a stream that enhances humidity much of the time when there is not much breeze. Perhaps the weather happened to be be conducive to such a performance. Perhaps it will remain a mystery.
Tony Tomeo 
Tony I bought a Daphne a year ago and it was a very sick looking plant 2 thin stalks. I should have sent it back . Now it is producing leaves and at the top is looking healthy. How old is that plant you have featured?
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The plant in the picture was installed less than a year ago, shortly after bloom last year. There are three or four of them, and they were exemplary specimens when installed. I was impressed because those that we grew never looked so good. I am pleased that they are still remarkably happy. Many years ago, while we were still growing daphne on the farm, I sent one to a friend in the Los Angeles region, only because he requested it. I told him that it would not be happy there. To make matters worse, he planted it under the exhaust vent for the laundry drier at his parents’ home. I expected it to die immediately. Instead, it grew fast to about the size of a small tumbleweed! It does not mind the heat, and appreciates the humidity! (I would think that the hot and dry air near the end of each laundry cycle would be worse than the warm and humid air near the beginning of each cycle.) It is embarrassing that his does so well despite the abuse while mine languish while pampered.
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(Of course the few at work are worth bragging about, even though I did not grow them.)
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I see people posting pictures of their Daphnes and it makes me jealous. They don’t seem to be hardy above zone 7, which is a pity.
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I sort of get envious too, but there are so many other things to grow. I actually prefer the fragrance of other flowers that are easier to grow.
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Reblogged this on Tony Tomeo and commented:
A few later, they are still performing very well.
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