Daphne Perfume Princess

Daphne 'Perfume Princess' owes its name to its large clusters of delicately pink, beautifully scented flowers, capable of perfuming a whole area of the garden from the end of winter, and again in summer. This new hybrid from the antipodes is undoubtedly the earliest and most floriferous of all daphne hybrids. This evergreen shrub is adorned with generous clusters of pink and then white flowers, which bloom along the branches, at the axil of large dark green evergreen leaves, which are also very ornamental. 'Perfume Princess' is an exceptional shrub, both hardy and less demanding than a rhododendron. Floriferous, highly ornamental and fragrant; these qualities should make this variety the new star of gardens and terraces.

Daphne 'Perfume Princess' is a shrub belonging to the Thymelaeaceae family, a cousin of the "Bois joli" and "Garou". This new hybrid from New Zealand is the result of cross-breeding between D. odora, a Chinese evergreen shrub that is not very hardy, and Daphne bholua, a tall upright shrub native to the eastern Himalayas, also highly fragrant but much hardier. 'Perfume Princess' forms an upright, bushy shrub, 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) tall and 90 cm (35.4 in) wide at maturity. Its growth is quite slow. Very floriferous, it is adorned from March-April with delicate, very fragrant star-shaped flowers that are pink with orange anthers, sometimes reaching 6 cm (2.4 in) in diameter, gathered in large umbels. A well-established plant will produce up to 10 clusters of flowers on each branch, spread from its base to its tip. This exceptional flowering period is followed by a resting period in July-August, before it blooms again in late summer, so that this daphne is in bloom for about six months of the year. Its complex fragrance, both sweet and rustic, recalls carnation, jasmine, hyacinth, enhanced with a spicy hint of clove and lemony notes. The large entire lanceolate dark green coriaceous leaves are 6 to 10 cm (2.4 to 3.9 in) long and 1 to 2.5 cm (0.4 to 1 in) wide. They are grouped in tufts at the top of the branches and then spread along the entire length of the year's stems. They are evergreen in mild and temperate climates, but often semi-evergreen in cold climates. This variety does not require pruning and shows some resistance to diseases.

The 'Perfume Princess' hybrid Daphne is hardy and not very fussy about the nature of the soil, as long as it is properly drained, rather moist and not excessively limestone. It can be used in flower beds, as a standalone plant or in large pots, and tolerates sunny exposures very well. To enjoy its exceptional flowering and fragrance, it is wise to plant it near a window, a pathway or an entrance. It is perfect in an ericaceous flower bed, alongside autumn camellias, deciduous azaleas and hydrangeas. Its flowering branches are also beautiful in bouquets, mixed with those of Japanese quince or Prunus.

Note: Daphnes are sometimes temperamental plants, and their cultivation can be delicate if the conditions are not suitable. They are best reserved for experienced gardeners.