Daphne can cope with almost any location. It can even be grown in natural hedges. The plants are expensive in garden shops - reason enough to try to propagate daphne yourself. Helpful tips for propagation.
How to propagate daphne?
Daphne can be propagated by sowing, planting, grafting or shoot cuttings. The simplest method is sowing ripe drupes in August, while grafting and shoot cuttings are recommended for more experienced gardeners.
The different methods of propagating daphne
- Sowing
- Lowers
- Refining
- Shoot cuttings
Sowing daphne
Sowing is the easiest way to propagate daphne. If you already have a pretty variety in your garden, simply collect the fully ripe stone fruits in August. You can tell that the fruits are ripe by their bright red color.
Immediately after picking, scatter the fruits in a suitable location in the garden or in small pots that you have to leave outside in winter.
The seeds require a cold period (stratification) before they germinate next spring.
Propagate by lowering
Most daphne bushes form depressions all by themselves. Simply dig up these cuttings when the new growth is large enough.
To create sinkers yourself, bend one or more shoots to the ground in spring. Lightly score the stems at intervals of approximately 20 to 30 centimeters.
Then cover the sinkers with earth and secure them with stones or tent pegs. You will know that the sinkers are rooted when new shoots grow out of the soil.
Refining daphne
Some Daphne varieties can only be propagated through grafting. This method is very complex and is usually only successful for gardeners who have a lot of experience with refining trees.
Propagation through shoot cuttings rarely works
You can of course also try to propagate daphne using shoot cuttings. To do this, after flowering or in early autumn, cut off a few shoots that are only slightly woody and place them in prepared potting soil.
But don't be disappointed if most attempts fail. Propagation via cuttings is not recommended by gardening experts because only very few cuttings develop new daphne plants.
Tip
Caution is advised when caring for daphne. The pretty ornamental plant is highly poisonous. Even skin contact can cause mild symptoms of poisoning. Therefore, always wear gloves if you have to touch daphne.
