How are you guys coping with upcoming roseless gloom? I am considering buying some winter flowering Daphne but I hear they are unreliable and just so expensive. I did get a couple of Sarcococca shrubs last winter so that's something... Anything you can recommend?
We have a winter flowering Daphne up here in Aberdeenshire - where going -20 degrees is not unheard of and our Daphne copes really well.
No idea on cost as ours has been in the ground for over 20 years. If you know someone with a Daphne then there is always seedlings round the foot of the shrub from the berries.
Hope this helps @Dasha. We have slightly acid loam soil and the Daphne is planted facing south near the house's gable end - for what it's worth.
I accidentally deep-watered my Harlow Carr twice on the same day @cooldoc and that was the result. I do find the bloom count of all roses is hugely dependent on how much I water, but it’s hard to keep up. I agree it’s not very fragrant, not to my nose.
We are due heavy rain for the next few days so I’m praying it materialises!
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
My winter flowering Daphnes didn't die due to low temperature. But I don't know why they start dropping leaves randomly during any season (not winter) and commit suicide. I tried at different aspects in garden and different soil mix in pots.
My Daphne × transatlantica Eternal Fragrance have done very well and are lovely evergreen shrubs with good repeat on flowers 🤞
I find a relief in the end of the season. Some say we shouldn't think of "putting the garden to bed" but I always look forward to it.
Is it because there is just too much to do during the season? I don't have a proper garden yet but I am begining to wonder if choosing lower maintenance shrubs (except for roses of course) is the way to go for me. Even now I am barely able to stay on top of it all...
I visited my local nursery yesterday and came back with 7 hellebores. 2 speckled of unnamed variety, 2 Double Ellen Pink and 3 Double Ellen Red. I hope these are good - the nursery didn't have a particularly wide selection. Also got a few varieties of crocuses.
WAMS, you mentioned reds and purples are lush but you mostly have speckled - are reds/purples harder to grow?
Newbie77, losing so many Daphne sounds very demoralising... Given my limited gardening experience I decided to steer clear of them for now.
@PeterAberdeen any idea what variety is your Daphne? I read they don't live long but your experience is different. I read similar things about lavender but then some people keep them alive for decades... Trial and error I guess
My Daphne × transatlantica Eternal Fragrance gave up the ghost after two years, but it was in a too small pot to begin with and objected to being repotted. It did have a long flowering season.
The Prince:
and with Marie Pavie:
Flamenco Rosita/Ivor’s Rose:
Guy Savoy waking after a long slumber:
Love Song with GJ - also just awakening after a long slumber - in the background:
GJ:
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
@Dasha, I also look forward to a break in winter. I used to enjoy winter gardening in my previous garden but in this garden there are two huge poplars in neighbour's garden which drop leaves and couple of big apple trees which drop a lot of mess. Garden also gets very soggy.
By the end of autumn I am fed up of raking and just want a break!
Late compensation following summer heat devastation @newbie77! I’ve been looking for another Eternal Fragrance for some time, but the GC’s have never got it in again. Choice is dire and diminishing, they are all suffering from the cost of living crisis.
Oh and my perennial order has got lost by the Spanish courier so I’m claiming a refund from the supplier. At this rate I’ll never get all those border gaps filled 🙄
Another coming back from the dead, Cramoisi Supérieur:
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Posts
We are due heavy rain for the next few days so I’m praying it materialises!
My Daphne × transatlantica Eternal Fragrance have done very well and are lovely evergreen shrubs with good repeat on flowers 🤞
The Prince:
and with Marie Pavie:
Flamenco Rosita/Ivor’s Rose:
Guy Savoy waking after a long slumber:
Love Song with GJ - also just awakening after a long slumber - in the background:
By the end of autumn I am fed up of raking and just want a break!
Do try Daphne × transatlantica Eternal Fragrance again. It is a lovely shrub.
Sometimes something just doesn't work for us, sarcoccoas are supposed to be easier to grow, but mine has struggled a lot.
Oh and my perennial order has got lost by the Spanish courier so I’m claiming a refund from the supplier. At this rate I’ll never get all those border gaps filled 🙄
Another coming back from the dead, Cramoisi Supérieur: