Daphne odora
| Daphne odora | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Thymelaeaceae |
| Genus: | Daphne |
| Species: | D. odora |
| Binomial name | |
| Daphne odora Thunb. | |
Daphne odora (winter daphne) is a species of flowering plant in the family Thymelaeaceae, native to China, Japan and Korea. It is an evergreen shrub, grown for its very fragrant, fleshy, pale-pink, tubular flowers, each with 4 spreading lobes, and for its glossy foliage. It rarely fruits, producing red berries after flowering.
The Latin specific epithet odora means "fragrant".[1]
It grows best in fertile, slightly acid, peaty, well-drained soils. It grows in full sun or partial shade, and is hardy to −10 °C (14 °F), possibly lower. In Korea, the plant is also poetically called "churihyang" - a thousand mile scent - referring to the fragrance of the foliage. In Japan, the plant is more commonly known as "jinchoge".
Plants are not long lived, senescing within 8 to 10 years.[2] Daphne generally do not react well to root disturbance, and may transplant badly. D. odora is also susceptible to virus infection, which causes leaf mottling.[3]
All parts of the plant are poisonous to humans and a range of domestic animals[4] and some people experience dermatitis from contact with the sap.[5]
Daphne odora is propagated by semi-ripe cuttings in summer.
Cultivars
- D. odora f. Rosacea has white and pink flowers.
- D. odora f. Rubra has dark red-pink flowers with reduced fragrance.
- D. odora 'Aureomarginata' has yellow edged leaves, and is hardier and more suitable to cultivation than the plain-leaved forms.[3] This cultivar has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[6]
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Daphne odora. |
- ↑ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
- ↑ Flora, The Gardener's Bible, ABC Publishing, Sydney, 2005
- 1 2 The Reader's Digest Gardeners' Encyclopaedia of Plants & Flowers, Sydney, 1998
- ↑ http://www.anbg.gov.au/poison-plants/D-poison.html
- ↑ Royal Horticultural Society entry for Daphne odora
- ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata'". Retrieved 14 June 2013.