‘Summer Ice’ and ‘Eternal Fragrance’ Daphne
By far, one of our most asked about plants!
This species of Daphne blooms throughout the spring, summer and fall, and is less fussy than some of the other Daphne species. We generally carry two varieties: ‘Summer Ice’ and ‘Eternal Fragrance’.
‘Summer Ice’ (pictured left) has a creamy, variegated edge. Plants get about 3 to 4′ tall by 4 to 6′ wide, and has a moderate growth rate. ‘Eternal Fragrance’ (pictured right) has plain green leaves and is more compact (2 to 3′ tall and wide) and slower growing.
Daphnes are considered partially evergreen plants. In mild winters, they will will keep almost all their leaves, but in severe winters they will drop quite a few leaves – but will flush out beautifully in the spring. What Daphnes are known best for is their fragrance. A light wind will carry their musky sweet fragrance to wherever you are in the yard.
Daphnes will tolerate full sun, but in our climate a little protection from hot afternoon sun is probably best. We have a huge ‘Summer Ice’ on the east side of our office and it seems very happy there. While D. transatlantica isn’t as picky about watering as other Daphnes, well-drained soil is best. These plants are also deer resistant, and fairly drought tolerant once established. Like all Daphnes, though, it doesn’t like to have its root system disturbed so be gentle when planting and don’t try to transplant it once it’s settled.
We also regularly carry two other types of Daphne that are a bit fussier, water-wise – but are well worth the effort:
Daphne odora (Winter Daphne): Winter Daphne gets to approximately 3 to 4′ tall and wide, and there are both plain and variegated-leafed varieties. One of the secrets of successfully growing Winter Daphnes is to make sure they have excellent drainage. In heavier soils, plant them slightly higher than the surrounding soil, or plant on a mound.
Daphne ‘Lawrence Crocker’: This is a really sweet dwarf Daphne (just 12″ tall and wide) with purple flowers. Daphne ‘Lawrence Crocker’ was named after one of the original partners of the Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery, and this plant is a lovely namesake. They also prefer well-drained soil, and are an excellent addition to a dry shade garden.