Thymelaeaceae · Daphne odora
Native to: China
Also known as: Winter Daphne
It is best grown in drier areas of the garden, e.g under eaves. Daphnes do not like to be constantly wet.
Plants are not long lived, usually lasting eight to ten years.
Daphne is also fussy about root disturbance so won’t fancy having its roots tickled at planting time. Also avoid cultivating the soil around it - no underplanting with annuals, as desirable as that might seem - and mulch thickly to suppress weeds instead of hand-weeding.
Daphne enjoys the cooler climates of southern Australia and is tolerant of frost. It likes moist, rich, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, in a cool spot in light shade or with morning sun. Excellent drainage is the most important factor for daphne success as it’s prone to root rot. If you notice die-back after periods of heavy rain, spray with Yates Anti Rot or Amgrow RotGuard.
A light pruning by taking off the flowers will prevent the plant from becoming woody.
Daphne odora is propagated by semi-ripe cuttings in summer.
To propagate, take stem cuttings. I was once told that the perfect time to take the cuttings is Christmas Day - but if you can't manage that, some time round the end of December is ideal, apparently! They do take a while to establish as cuttings.