Practical
Plants

Daphne bholua

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Daphne
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
2 m
Spread
1.5 m
Fertility
Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies, Lepidoptera

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

All parts of the plant are poisonous[16]. Skin contact with the sap can cause dermatitis in some people[9].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The juice of the roots, combined with molasses, is used in the treatment of fevers and intestinal problems[12]. A decoction of the bark is used to treat fevers[12]. The powdered seeds are anthelmintic[12].

Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Anthelmintic

Material uses

A very good quality paper is made from the inner bark[2][13][14][15][12]. It is one of the principle sources of hand made paper in Nepal[12]. The fibre in the inner bark can be used to make rope[3][12].

Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Paper

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Himalayas - Uttar Pradesh to S.W. China.
Habitat
Clearings in oak and rhododendron forests and shrubberies to 3100 metres[14]. Moist shady places under trees at elevations of 1000 - 3200 metres in Nepal[12].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe with the pot sealed in a polythene bag to hold in the moisture. Remove this bag as soon as germination takes place[4]. The seed usually germinates better if it is harvested 'green' (when it has fully developed but before it dries on the plant) and sown immediately. Germination should normally take place by spring, though it sometimes takes a further year. Stored seed is more problematic. It should be warm stratified for 8 - 12 weeks at 20°c followed by 12 - 14 weeks at 3°c. Germination may still take another 12 months or more at 15°c[4]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. Grow the plants on in the greenhouse for their first winter and then plant out in spring after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, June/July in a frame[10]. Division of suckers[10]. Layering.

Cultivation

Prefers a cool lime-free well-drained sandy loam and a sunny position[1][2]. Succeeds in neutral soils[2] and tolerates partial shade[9]. Plants also succeed in quite deep shade[11]. At least some forms, especially the sub-species D. bholua glacialis.(see below) tolerate alkaline soils[7]. Flowers well when grown in dry shade[7]. Likes plenty of moisture in the growing season[2]. Grows well in London, tolerating atmospheric pollution[7]. Said to be hardy to about -5°c[9], plants succeed outdoors in southern England, but are defoliated in severe winters[2]. Plants at higher altitudes in its native range are often deciduous whilst plants from lower altitudes are evergreen but less hardy[5]. A very variable and very ornamental species[1][9], the cultivars 'Ghurka' (deciduous) and 'Jacqueline Postill' (evergreen) are more hardy than the type[6][9]. One report says that the cultivar 'Ghurka' is part of the deciduous sub-species D. bholua glacialis. (W.W.Smith.&Cave.)Burtt. and that it can tolerate temperatures down to about -10°c[7]. The flowers are fragrant[12]. Because it flowers in the winter, this species seldom produces much seed in Britain unless it is hand-pollinated[10]. Plants often sucker and form clumps in the wild[10]. Plants are resentful of root disturbance and should be planted into their permanent positions as soon as possible[8].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  3. Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1972-00-00

    ↩

  4. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩

  6. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩

  7. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  8. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

  9. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  10. Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Royal Horticultural Society 1994-00-00 ISBN 1352-4186

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  11. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩

  12. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  13. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  14. Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press 1984-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  15. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  16. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

    ↩

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