Plant Finder

Moana Nursery High Desert Plant Finder & Guide

Description:

A lovely garden accent shrub featuring clusters of highly fragrant white flowers held over attractive, yellow-edged, dark green foliage, from spring to fall; a fussy plant, needing light shade and well-drained soil; never move once established

Ornamental Features

Splash Variegated Summer Daphne has clusters of fragrant white star-shaped flowers at the ends of the branches from mid spring to early fall, which emerge from distinctive pink flower buds. It has attractive dark green foliage edged in yellow with hints of grayish green. The narrow leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Splash Variegated Summer Daphne is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a mounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should never be pruned except to remove any dieback, as it tends not to take pruning well. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Disease

Splash Variegated Summer Daphne is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Splash Variegated Summer Daphne will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub does best in a location that gets morning sunlight but is shaded from the hot afternoon sun, although it will also grow in partial shade. Keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. This plant should be periodically fertilized throughout the active growing season with a specially-formulated acidic fertilizer. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets.