Daphne, Fragrant Daphne, Variegated Winter Daphne 'Aureo-Marginata'

I have "killed" a dozen of the Daphne species but have had great success with 'Aureo-Marginata.' Rather than try to amend our North Caro...Read Morelina red clay, I now plant my Daphnes in pots.

My Daphne is about 16 years old and has been spectacular in bloom and throughout the year with it's variegated leaves brightening the sha...Read Morede. But this fall and winter it became very lean, dropped many of it's leaves, didn't even try to bloom, and looked like It would kick the bucket. We're going into our fifth year of drought here in CA and it's under mature trees. I am irrigating it a little more, and the leaves look a bit better, but it's just a sad ghost of the plant it was previously. I'm wrestling with just digging it out and buying a replacement, since it's given me a good many years. I love this plant, it's blooms draw people in from the street to find out what the heavenly fragrance is, and I really missed it this year.

Winter daphne is a nice looking, evergreen shrub that produces exquisite smelling flowers in January/February (zone 7b or 8a).
<...Read Morebr /> From what I've read, daphnes are considered to be a finicky plant. They like part shade and alkaline soil, which is why mine have done well up against the foundation of my house. I think the leachate from the foundation causes an increase in the pH of the soil.

Unfortunately, one of the two daphnes that I have just started wilting and dropping leaves and now, after only two weeks, looks like it will be dead very soon. The other one is perfectly fine. These shrubs are between ten and twenty years old. There have been no cultural changes or severe weather changes here.

I think I got this in my garden. Am just not that happy about it.
Still very few leaves on it even now, at end of summer. All cra...Read Moremmed at end of branches.
Flowers... well, really early spring blooms, but I think they were attacked by cold. Very few managed to open.
This pic was taken april 6, 2011.

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/220987991010401036...

Just doesn't look like most pictures... leaves and flowers at the same time.