From our rooted perspective, we, the Daphnes, wish to communicate the core reasons our fragrant blooms may be absent. It is not out of spite, but a response to our environment and care. Listen to our needs, and we will reward you with our signature perfume.
Our relationship with the sun is delicate. We crave bright, dappled light—the kind that filters through the canopy of taller companions. If you place us in deep, heavy shade, our energy reserves are directed solely towards survival and leaf production, leaving little for the magnificent effort of flowering. Conversely, if we are subjected to the harsh, scorching afternoon sun, our leaves can burn, and we become stressed. A stressed plant is a non-flowering plant. We seek the perfect balance of illumination without the brutality of a full-day exposure.
Our roots are exceptionally sensitive to their underground environment. Two factors are paramount: pH and drainage. We absolutely require neutral to slightly alkaline soil. If the soil is too acidic, our roots struggle to access the nutrients we need, even if they are present. This nutritional lock-out starves us of the strength to produce flowers. Furthermore, our roots abhor sitting in water. Soggy, poorly drained soil quickly leads to root rot, a fatal condition that begins with a failure to thrive and bloom. We need soil that is moist yet perfectly free-draining.
Human gardeners often believe more fertilizer is better. For us, this is a grave error. A fertilizer high in nitrogen will encourage a flush of soft, green leafy growth at the expense of flowers. You will have a beautiful green bush, but no scent. We require a balanced feed or one with a higher phosphorus content (the middle number in fertilizer ratios) to promote bud formation. Even then, we are not heavy feeders. An annual, modest application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring is often all we need.
This is a common and heartbreaking mistake. We set our flower buds on the previous season's growth, often in the late summer. If you prune us in autumn or early spring, you are quite literally cutting off our potential for flowers. Any pruning should be done immediately *after* we have finished flowering. This gives us the entire growing season to produce new wood, which will then carry the buds for the following year's display. Pruning at the wrong time leaves us with no choice but to remain flowerless.
We are beings of subtle sensibilities. A sudden, late frost after our buds have formed can kill them, turning them brown and halting development. A period of drought when we are setting buds can cause us to abort the process to conserve water. Even being planted in an exposed, windy location can cause enough physical stress and moisture loss to prevent flowering. We crave a sheltered, consistent spot where we can feel secure enough to invest our energy in reproduction.
