Practical
Plants

Daphne odora

Winter Daphne

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Daphne genus in the family Thymelaeaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Daphne
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
1.5 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.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The flowers and the stems are anodyne, antiphlogistic, antispasmodic, depurative and ophthalmic[3]. A decoction is used in the treatment of backache, myalgia, skin diseases, poor vision etc[3][11]. A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of laryngitis and sore throats[11]. A decoction of the roots and leaves is used in the treatment of sore throat and caked breast[11].

Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Antiphlogistic
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Depurative
Product or use
Ophthalmic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The flowers are very fragrant, they are put in sachets and used for pot-pourri. They are also used to perfume water[14][15]. The cultivar 'Aureo-marginata' can be used as a ground cover when planted about 1 metre apart each way[10].

Product or use
Pot-pourri

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
E. Asia - W. China.
Habitat
In the shade of upland trees around 1000 metres[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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, 7 - 10cm long at a node or with a heel, July/August in a frame. Layering

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a cool, lime-free well-drained friable soil[1] and some shelter from cold winds[5]. Succeeds in full sun or semi-shade[12]. This species is not generally hardy in Britain[1] but succeeds outdoors in Devon and Cornwall[2], tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c[9]. The cultivar 'Aureo-marginata' is hardy to about -13°c when grown in a very well-drained soil and it succeeds outdoors at Wisley[9]. Plants can be difficult to establish[10]. A very ornamental plant, a number of named forms have been developed for their ornamental value[6]. The flowers are powerfully fragrant with a spicy undertone[13]. Plants seldom set fruit in British gardens[12]. Plants are resentful of root disturbance and should be planted into their permanent positions as soon as possible[8]. This species is often affected by virus diseases. Some virus-free clones have been produced, their name is normally followed by the letters FKV (free of all known virus)[7].

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

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  3. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2↩3

  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

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

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  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

  10. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2

  11. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

  13. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

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  16. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

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