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Daphne Pink Perfume - not happy

corianderwhishcorianderwhish Posts: 22
in Problem solving
Hello all, I planted this Daphne two years ago in quite clay-y soil.  I then forgot about it as it was smothered by some Cranesbill.  As you see from the photo, it’s not a happy Daphne - it’s not grown at all and has lost most of its leaves. I’ve just moved it to a spot where I e worked in more compost and it won’t be smothered.  But my question to you is, do you think it’ll recover or should I cut my losses and dig it up and plant another shrub there that will then have the summer to settle in and I won’t be a year behind?  It’s on a bed opposite our front door which will get the easterly sun and some southerly as the sun moves around.  The soil remains quite heavy.  

Posts

  • corianderwhishcorianderwhish Posts: 22
    Duh me - now with photo
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    I think you've made your mind up by replanting it. What's the point of taking it out without giving it another chance? A bit of patience goes a long way. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • corianderwhishcorianderwhish Posts: 22
    That’s very wise, will try to do the patience thing. 
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    Daphne can be very moody. Now you have made the effort, I would give it a chance, but if you ever have another, improve the soil before you plant. They are not fond of alkaline clay, I find, so it can be touch and go.
  • corianderwhishcorianderwhish Posts: 22
    Thank you, will try and learn some patience. I normally feel such enormous guilt at pulling up and essentially killing living things that I let plants that are struggling or in the way keep going, but this poor Daphne looks so sad I almost just want to put an end to its pain. But I’ll give her the summer to stage a recovery. 
  • Cambridgerose12Cambridgerose12 Posts: 1,134
    Posy said:
    Daphne can be very moody. They are not fond of alkaline clay, I find, so it can be touch and go.
    Have you tried Daphne bholua? That’s the only one that has transplanted well to my alkaline clay without turning a hair. 
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    I have an aureomarginata, (spelling?) that is more than 20 years old and is still doing well. It came from a cutting from my mum's garden where the soil was light. But I have never found it vigorous or robust, it needs tlc. It's parent cutting made it to about 15 and fizzled out.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    I agree, fussy things.  However, I've had great success with one 'Perfume Princess' (bred in NZ) which seems to cope better in general and has more and showier flowers than most.  It's a 'good doer', if you like. :)
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
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