Daphne odora

Daphne odora, winter daphne, is a species of flowering plant in the family Thymelaeaceae, native to China, later spread to 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.

Daphne odora
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Thymelaeaceae
Genus: Daphne
Species:
D. odora
Binomial name
Daphne odora

The Latin specific epithet odora means "fragrant".[2]

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, usually lasting 8 to 10 years.[3] 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.[4]

All parts of the plant are poisonous to humans and a range of domestic animals[5] and some people experience dermatitis from contact with the sap.[6]

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.[4]

References
  1. "Daphne odora". The Plant List. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
  2. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
  3. Flora, The Gardener's Bible, ABC Publishing, Sydney, 2005
  4. The Reader's Digest Gardeners' Encyclopaedia of Plants & Flowers, Sydney, 1998
  5. http://www.anbg.gov.au/poison-plants/D-poison.html
  6. Royal Horticultural Society
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