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Daphne Eternal Fragrance Looks Like It Is Dying

bworth2015bworth2015 Posts: 2
in Problem solving

I have had the Daphne Eternal Fragrance for 4 years. It is planted in clay soil and mulched with forest bark chippings round the base (but not the stem). For 3 of them it kept growing quite bigger each year, looked quite healthy and bushy, with flowers most of the year.

 

But at the start of this year, I noticed it was thinning out, some of the branches were becoming bare and some had yellowing leaves.

I was watering it at least once a week with rainwater from a barrel.
I tried various things at different stages including

1.      Adding more compost round it.

2.      Feeding it with blood fish and bone.

3.      Feeding it with sequestered iron.

4.      Putting discarded banana skins round its base.

 

After several weeks, although more branches were becoming bare and more leaves turning yellow and dropping, there were still some branches with green leaves and some very tiny leaves begam growing on some bare branches near the base.

A cluster of branches with leaves still green even produced some white flowers.

 

But then all the existing leaves turned brown and the new small ones have shrivelled and also turned brown. Nearly all the branches are now bare.

 

Could you tell me what you think the problem is and how or if I can save it?

 

Thanks.


Posts

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited August 2022
    Hmmm... it could be (or have been) root rot, given your clay soil. Feeding it is probably unhelpful. I would try and leave it be, sometimes faffing around with a plant can just make things worse. When cooler autumn weather comes, I would move it to a well drained spot. You can create your own well drained spot by mounding up soil (adding grit), perhaps use some rockery stones to make a mini 'raised bed'. Alternatively, a container, with well drained soil.

    I have one in a rather dry and sunny raised bed, it was in a container for a few years which suited it quite well but it loves its new spot and is growing quite well.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @bworth2015 The sad fact is Daphne sometimes just gives up for no apparent reason. Not your fault at all.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    They are not very robust. When you watered it, did you make sure the water sunk right down into the soil? On the other hand, does your soil get very waterlogged? I grow a daphne on clay soil and it copes well with wet. It likes some shade. I believe they like slightly acid conditions but my soil is a bit alkaline and it's OK. It may recover, don't dig it out yet.

    When you have a sick plant you should only feed it if it has a specific nutritional deficiency. Otherwise, let it rest.
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    Unfortunately, daphnes can be very short lived,around 5 years so yours may be at the end of its natural life span.
  • bworth2015bworth2015 Posts: 2
    Thanks to everyone for taking the time to help me out.

    When I planted the Daphne, I was very generous with the amount of grit I put in the hole so it shouldn't be sitting in water.

    I'll just carry on watering it once a week and see if it recovers without feeding it any more.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    Eternal Fragrance died on me as well but I always felt it was a dull looking thing compared with D. tangutica with its shinier leaves and the flowers and berries all up there together


    In the sticks near Peterborough
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