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daphne shrub question
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Posted by kasha77 7 (kathysuleski@yahoo.com) on Sat, Apr 12, 08 at 22:40
I recently bought 2 Daphne shrubs, 1 ft. tall. At first, they were blooming. They are putting on new growth, but in the meantime, a few of their leaves are turning yellow & falling off. Since they are an evergreen shrub, do they slowly lose their leaves as they grow new ones? (I hope!) I know they are finicky, I planted them in a deep & wide enough hole, amended with leaves. The soil is well draining, slightly sandy, & I topped them off with mulched leaves to keep them moist. They get early morning sun, & are protected from afternoon sun. Any ideas?
Thanks! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: daphne shrub question
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| i grow them in zone 5.. carol mackii ... loses all of its leaves every winter ... your leaf loss sounds like it is related to the transplant ... it is my understanding.. very limited for daphne .... that they like very high drainage .. which MIGHT translate into letting them NEARLY dry between waterings ... i would have never planted a bush in flower.. just too much stress .... i would have kept it in the pot.. until flowering was complete... i would GUESS that it sacrificed some leaves.. to maintain the flowers.. due to teh stressers... i dont know if that is a valid theory .. but that is how i have always assumed for the last 20 years ... ken |
RE:Winter Variegated Daphne shrub question
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| Thanks for your insight- I wish the instructions on it would have stated that- I do have a 1 yr guarantee from Lowe's, but I'd rather have it live! What should I do with it? It does have fresh new growth, so I think I'll leave it alone & hope for the best! |
RE: daphne shrub question
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| i dont think it will die.. given proper care otherwise .... think of it this way ... all plants.. have one goal in life.. procreation ... which is what the flowers are all about ... if disturbed at flowering time .. the plant will sacrifice leaves to maintain the reproduction .. some annuals even go to the point of dying after seed set.. necessitating that we continually deadhead them.. to make them live longer for our pleasure ... so if you plant something in full flower... there is always going to be a reaction .. from the plant ... and it is often.. the loss of some leaf mass ... to sum it up... as i said before.. its a stressor.. and the plant is just reacting ... now.. if all the leaves turn brown and fall off.. then there are other problems .. you will NEVER find all that on a tag ... it is the learning that is required to turn your thumb green ... you are on your way.. just keep learning ... which most of us did.. by killing a lot of plants.. lol .. ken PS: before i started waiting to plant until after the flowering was done... i would just cut off the flowers.. so as to get it in the ground.. it is good to have the flowers at sale..s o you know what you get ... but i would defer beauty until the following year .. to avoid the stress.. either way is fine ... |
RE: daphne shrub question
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| I planted two daphne "carol mackii" last summer. I am in the northwest Chicago suburbs. They aren't showing any sign of life yet - neither are the "My Monet" weigela - is it too soon yet or should I begin thinking of replacing them? |
RE: daphne shrub question
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| you are welcome kash cyn ... you are a few weeks early in z5 to be coming to any conclusions on what is dead .... it all depends on your little micro climate ... dont make assumptions just yet ... ken |
RE: daphne shrub question
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Kathy Suleski,
You bought Daphne odora right? Our local Lowes is selling them also. As you stated they are evergreen shrubs and have finished blooming. Just like many broad-leaved evergreens they loose old foliage as the new emerges. In zone 7, treat like a camellia in a protected site especially in Winter. Another good piece of advice, they are topheavy, in time the snow will make them fall over, leave them, they will eventially fill in, don't try to upright them. IMO, D. odora is the most fragrant of all with lemony Winter flowers. |
RE: daphne shrub question
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Sam-
I think you are right-
I notice that the evergreen shrubs & trees do lose some leaves as the new ones emerge- The rest of the plant looks great! Yes, I did buy Daphne odora varigated- it's luscious! I have 2 of them protected in part shade on either side of the house. Also, as I live in NC, we don't get hardly any snow, so don't have to worry about that one! Thank God!
Thanks-
Kathy S kasha77 |
RE: daphne shrub question
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They may just be losing leaves as part of their growth cycle. They start new growth right after flowering. I have had excellent luck with
Daphne by using a mini berm of good potting soil. They love good drainage, and I have observed the roots are often exposed on the surface. One of my favorite plants. |
RE: daphne shrub question
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| CQ, My 'Carol Mackie' is typically one of the last to leaf out, especially if it's been a bit cooler than normal. That also goes for most of my weigelas like 'Dark Prince' and "Midnight Wine'. |
RE: daphne shrub question
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| Thanks to everyone who responded. I will hold out hope for my daphne for a few weeks. Yesterday was gorgeous and my daffodils burst forth. Yeah, Spring!! |
RE: daphne shrub question
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Guess what!
My winter Daphne Odora has finished losing a few leaves & is doing fine! I think that was just part of it's growth cycle, like jbcarr said.
Thanks! |
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