DAPHNE odora 'zuiko nishiki'

Pronounced (daf-nee oh-dor-uh zwee-co nih-she-kee)
Fast facts:

• a Japanese varietal of the ever popular Daphne odora
• blooms can be expected to open around Valentine's day
• cold hardiest of the odoras
• grows best with morning light or part shade

A well-loved plant, Daphne odora's can be expected to be low maintenance, beautifully fragrant medium sized shrubs that are excellent grower's in Portland's zone of 8b. It's size is comparable to better known varieties, such as the 'marginata' and care is similar: well draining soil is a must, and infrequent waterings. Daphne's will do better if they are a tad neglected. The 'zuiko nishiki' sets itself apart from other varieties by having stiffer branching allowing it to hold its form, whereas constant rain or snowfall can lead other varieties to slouch or stay low.