let me go one step further.. they do NOT resent it.. IT WILL DIE .. PERIOD... you have a $100 daphne.. but you wont move the $3 juniper.. and the 50 cent spirea.. lets get our priorities straight here ... MOVE THE OTHER TWO ... IN FALL you can also properly prune the daphne and shape it [NOT SHEAR IT!!!] you can also take off major hunks of the juniper .. and guide it around or away from it ... if you insist on some soil between plants ... for companions .. i recommend two or three other daphne.. in opposing colors ... and the spirea.. can.. literally.. be cut to the ground in fall/spring.. and return with vigor ... if you harm daphne.. scoobie is going to be pissed.. lol .. and thelma will be after you .. ken

Dear victoriajeanne Oregon, If you're growing _Daphne odora_, the winter daphne, you're probably aware that it is a temperamental plant, known to keel over dead, at almost any time, for no apparent reason. If your plant suffered winter injury, it is probably contemplating death and, thus, may well be on the verge of keeling over dead. If I were you, I would hold off on fertilizing the plant, especially this late in the growing season. A sudden flush of succulent growth would be susceptible to frost. If _Daphne odora_ is sited well, it thrives on neglect. We have five daphnes in different locations. Each plant is growing in well-drained, fertile soil, in semi-shade. Four are happy. The fifth one, _Daphne odora alba_, is, however, unhappy and is trying to decide whether to live or to die. I'm tempted to go ahead and put it out of its misery but am going to give it a little more time to make its own life or death decision. That's what I'd recommend as far as your daphne is concerned. Leave it alone for awhile and let it to make its own life or death decision. If it keels over, don't be surprised. It can be replaced. But remember, winter daphne is like Marlene Dietrich in wanting to be left alone.

WendyB, Is the virgin soil deep and well draining,where your Carol Mackies are planted? If so and by now, yours most likely have developed deeper and more extensive roots than I discovered with my potted ones. It seems reasonable to conclude that by now and for sure next Spring your Carol Mackie's root system would be too extensive. Any one trying to dig up the shrub most likely would leave too much of that root system still in the ground, detached from the shrub. Or is your good virgin soil shallow with a hardpan clay base? either way it might be easier to just purchase another one in liner form early next spring. If you do not think their first year growth potential described in my orignal post will be good enough for it to survive transplanting and handling it's initial winter, then grow it in double pots for two seasons. Since double 5 gallon size pots stacked did well for one growing season, growing them in pots for two seasons likely would require for you to plant the liner in two stacked 10 gallon pots. At least I am certain that my Daphnes would have needed to be transplanted in that large and deep of potting soil if I had grown them in pots for another year. Just be certain to use the highest quality of potting soil you can find, or mix up your own using composted bark mulch along with other well draining potting soil elements and just a small amount of peat. Put the pot in a morning sun (full afternoon shade)environment. lightly water that pot every day or so just enough to keep the top of the soil appearing moist. In the hottest part of the summer watch the leaves closely. If they start to show stress from too much sun, immediatly move the pot to a location where it receives dappled or filtered morning shade, and almost total afternoon shade.

Hello, Debra, I just read your posting, and thought I'd add some thoughts which might encourage you to try Carol Mackie. I planted one several years ago when I lived in Providence, in a site with only partial sun but with very well-drained soil. It thrived and produced clusters of heavenly perfumed flowers for three years, until I went against the advice of my landscape architect by trying to replant it. I dug over two feet wider than the plant, and three feet down, but despite my best efforts, it promptly died. A cardinal rule for Carol Mackie daphne is NEVER replant it, once it has been planted. Another important point is to make sure that it is watered regularly until established, and to make sure that the roots never get dry ! I am doing a major relandscaping on 3/4 of an acre in Little Compton, and have a special spot for my next Carol Mackie. It's variegated leaves, rounded shape, and wonderfully perfumed spring flower clusters make it one of my favorites. I think that they're hardy, forgiving plants. If you decide to give one a try, I think that you'll be glad that you did. Good luck, Debra !