9 Daphne laureola

Posted on 15 Mar, 2009 5 comments

Walking round the garden today I noticed my Daphne laureola (Spurge laurel).

Daphne laureola

This is grown in classic text book style. It is in full shade in humus rich soil that is always slightly moist. Seeing it reminded me of our trip to the Atlas Mounains in Morocco at this time last year. We were at about 2,000m on a bare mountain side. The rock was a hard baked shale mostly covered with lava flows and growing in this we saw – Daphne laureola!

This habitat was completely different to that in which we are all advised to grow the shrub. It is baking hot and fully exposed to the sun in summer and there was no humus in the ground at all. Yet it was a mature plant and flourishing. Later, I also realised that there was only the specimen that we saw. How did it get there in the first place? Plants are such wonderful things.

Daphne laureola in the Atlas Mountains

Comments

Andrewr

You have a very happy daphne there bulbaholic

15 Mar, 2009

Terratoonie

I find your garden very interesting.
Especially like the rock and alpine areas of your plot.
Your explanations about the plants are helpful :o)

15 Mar, 2009

Bulbaholic

Thank you for your comment. This is, generally, the way that I write. I am pleased that you like my explanations and I will try to put up more blogs in this manner.

15 Mar, 2009

Spritzhenry

That is interesting - is Morocco its native habitat? Have you researched it?

16 Mar, 2009

Bulbaholic

Yes, D laureola is native to Morocco and North Africa. I suppose the puzzle is why gardening books recommend deep shade. Does anyone have success with this shrub in full sun?

16 Mar, 2009

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