Burkwood daphne

Burkwood daphne: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Dense, rounded shrub about 1 m high and wide, with upright shoots.

Leaves

Narrow and oblong, 2–4 cm, fresh green; semi-evergreen.

Flower

Clusters of small, tubular flowers with four lobes at the shoot tips, in April–May.

Colour

White to pale pink, the buds a deeper pink.

Scent

Strong and sweet, especially on mild, still days.

Fruit

Rare: sometimes a few red berries, which are poisonous.

Flowering: April–May · Plants: March–April and September–October

Why grow it?

• One of the most fragrant shrubs of spring: plant it by a path, terrace or front door.
• Compact and rounded: it fits a small garden or a large pot.
• Semi-evergreen: in mild winters it keeps much of its foliage.
• Sometimes flowers a second time in summer.
• Does not need pruning.

Burkwood daphne: where does it grow best?

• Sun or light partial shade; in full sun the base must stay cool and shaded.
• Well-drained, humus-rich sandy or loamy soil, acid to chalky.
• Moist: never let it dry out, but never let it get waterlogged either.
• A spot sheltered from cold winds; allow about 1 m of space.

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Sand or loam

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal

Size

1 m tall, 1 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -20 °C)

Goes well with

• Lenten rose: Flowers early and likes the same humus-rich soil.
• Daffodil: Spring bulbs around the foot of the shrub.
• Grape hyacinth: Blue carpets beneath the pink flowers.
• Lady’s mantle: Soft green leaves and yellow sprays after flowering.
• Cranesbill: A ground cover that keeps the soil around the base cool.

Burkwood daphne: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April and September–October.

1. Plant in March–April or September–October.
2. Choose its final position straight away: this daphne resents being moved.
3. Dig a generous hole and mix in compost and, on heavy soil, some coarse sand.
4. Set the plant at the same depth as in the pot without disturbing the root ball.
5. Keep about 1 m away from other shrubs.
6. Water in gently and spread a layer of leaf mould around the base to keep the roots cool.

Care

Water

Water in prolonged dry spells, ideally with rainwater; never let it dry out, but avoid wet roots.

Feeding

A thin layer of compost or a little organic fertiliser in March; no more is needed.

Mulching

Leaf mould or fine bark keeps the roots cool and moist.

Moving

Best avoided: the fine roots recover poorly.

Containers

It can grow in a large pot of free-draining compost; water regularly.

Tip: Plant it right by a path or the front door so you enjoy the scent every day in April–May, and then simply let it grow unpruned.

Burkwood daphne: when to prune it?

When: This daphne is not pruned. Only remove dead or damaged twigs, preferably straight after flowering.

How:

• Cut dead or broken twigs back to healthy wood.
• To adjust the shape, shorten an overlong shoot after flowering to just above a leaf.
• Wear gloves: the sap can irritate the skin.

Caution: It recovers poorly from hard pruning and reshoots reluctantly from old wood.

Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Semi-ripe cuttings

In July–August: cuttings of 8–10 cm from non-flowering shoots in a sandy cutting mix under plastic. This takes patience.

Layering

In spring, lightly wound a low branch, peg it into the soil and cover it; sever it after a year.

Burkwood daphne: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −20 °C.

• Hardy to about −20 °C: no protection needed in Belgium.
• In severe winters some leaves drop; new ones grow back in spring.
• Make sure the soil does not stay waterlogged in winter.
• In a pot: stand it against a sheltered wall and wrap the pot so the roots do not freeze.

Diseases and pests

• Sudden death: A healthy plant sometimes wilts within a few weeks, often due to root rot in wet soil. Plant in free-draining soil and do not move it.
• Virus: Yellow-mottled or distorted leaves and poorer growth. Incurable: remove badly affected plants.
• Aphids: On young shoots in spring. Spray off with water or let ladybirds deal with them.
• Yellow leaves: Soil too wet or lack of nutrients. Improve drainage and give compost in March.

Through the year

• March: Plant. Give compost.
• April: Plant. Flowering starts: fragrant pink flowers.
• May: Full flower. Water in dry weather.
• June: Top up the mulch. Water in dry weather.
• July: Take semi-ripe cuttings. Sometimes a second flush of flowers.
• August: Take cuttings. Water in dry weather.
• September: Plant.
• October: Plant. Avoid wet spots.
• December: Dormant. Protect pots from hard frost.

Edible and useful

Not edible. Daphnes are highly poisonous in all their parts; the red or black berries tempt children, and just a few berries can cause serious poisoning. The sap irritates the skin: wear gloves when pruning. Do not plant them where small children play. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Did you know?

• The Burkwood brothers also raised other well-known fragrant shrubs, such as Viburnum × burkwoodii.
• The name Daphne refers to the nymph in Greek mythology who was turned into a laurel; daphne is Greek for laurel.
• One of its parents, Daphne cneorum, grows wild in the mountains of central and southern Europe.