Comments on: Antique Fragrance Under Glass

By: Matt Mattus

Matt Mattus — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 07:26:20 +0000

Andrea – What a wonderful memory, and how lucky your Grandmother was!. Many people will advise you to not pick not cut, trim or prune Daphne shrubs, but I disagree. It does depend on the species, but I generally, I trim my daphne shrubs except D. mezerium. Two years ago, the well known plant collector Jozef Halda stayed with us for nearly a week, after returning from a long trip to Burma ( where he had been collecting many gentians and even some daphne). When I came home from work, I found that he had cut most of my Daphne shrubs back nearly to the ground! After I chilled-out, he explained that in nature, most alpine species are crushed by snow, and that the always cuts every branch back by half using hedge sheers every two years. I do that now, and most of my daphne crosses are dense, and perfectly full mounds, like the ones seen in the Alps after snowmelt.
I say trim with care, but enjoy the flower. I have a D. x burkwoodii nearly 25 years old, and it has been cut back three times. Always, good drainage and the right site will help too.

By: Andrea B.

Andrea B. — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 02:04:03 +0000

Daphne is one of my very favorite flowers–my grandmother used to bring my father bouquets every year from an enormous plant in her yard. I have my very first tiny plant, which is just about to bloom (outdoors in NC!) and I want to clip every stem. Do you have any pruning advice so that I do not do any damage with my enthusiasm?

By: Marie

Marie — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 05:37:26 +0000

Hi Matt! I first starting following your blog over two years ago, and I'm glad to see you're doing so well with it. It's such a pleasure reading your blog. With so many blogs littered with blinking, obnoxious ads on every spare inch, it is so refreshing to read your blog where the reader can just focus on your lovely pictures and writing. To that, I thank you!

By: dabney rose

dabney rose — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:51:50 +0000

Lovely! My daphne (also under glass in NC) is winding down but still with lots of voice. Also singing is osmanthus, lemon tree, cyclamen & sweet & parma violets. It really is heaven isn't it!