That is helpful! I think the drainage decides the issue for sure. In the backyard, the ground often stays damp towards the rear. But in front of the house, that foundation box drains out (it is sort of above grade). One hint--there has been some kind of holly growing there, which has done fine. Leggy, but robust. I just dislike it, and it wants to grow too big. Ken, I am in DC. I checked my members page, and my zip code is in there--no separate space to enter a city, that I can see. Am I missing something? Anyway, the heat does dry the soil out when there is not much rain. Does Daphne need it to be dry all the time, or just sometimes? Actually, in really heavy rain, the gutter above sometimes overflows onto that spot. Is excess water a problem in and of itself? I just noticed some landscaping by a big building in my neighborhood. I think there are a bunch of Daphne x B. there. No blossoms now, but suggestive little buds, and leaves that look like the pictures. It's on a slope.

Hello - I'm hoping to get a response in this thread ... sorry to paste my ??? here. Would anyone know the life expectancy of Viburnum Barkwoodii? I planted mine in 1988 from a mere gal. pot & left him on his own after he was old enough. I feel bad that I have neglected better care, taken him for granted & missed enjoying many of his bloom-time (Spring). He is in full bloom now but I've noticed that his clusters are a bit smaller & spicy scent, seem different these past 2 years, more pungent ... more scragly & no longer as full but still gives the beautiful Fall foliage colors. Is there a way to rejuvenate this old guy w/ fertilizer & some corrective pruning? I was very recently told that I may be pruning wrongly. I have been removing the young canes thinking that they were suckers, draining the old fellow of nutrients? Could I be removing the wrong & promising canes? TIA for input & help! Here is a link that might be useful: Barkwoodii few yrs ago

Why, of course I'll take the bait... I'd venture to say that unless you've compared your olfactory offerings at a variety of temperatures, wind conditions, and inflorescence age - you are just sniffing in the wind. I have each of the species/clones mentioned here and more, around a dozen total. There are distinct characteristics that can separate the flowers' fragrances, but unless you are willing to cut the various stems/flowers and bring them into a "neutral corner" (like indoors in your kitchen or some such) for evaluation, you really can't make an honest or remotely objective comparison. I'd throw out words like spiciness, sweetness, heavy cloyingness, and lightness when describing fragrance. Imagine the wine snob who needs a bottle to breathe before it opens up, or the necessity of aeration or decanting before imbibing. Extreme? Only if you are serious in your position or absoluteness in declaring which is "best". You cannot say so, if you haven't done so. And - who is still trying to make this decision at the end of May/early June? Fragrant viburnums were done blooming a month ago! That's like trying to remember who kissed best in high school... BTW - these are the fragrant ones I have here at the Valley: **Viburnum farreri **Viburnum farreri 'Album' **Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' **Viburnum b!tchiuense **Viburnum carlesii **Viburnum carlesii 'Aurora' **Viburnum carlesii Spiced Bouquet **Viburnum x juddii **Viburnum x 'Cayuga' **Viburnum x burkwoodii **Viburnum x burkwoodii 'Mohawk' **Viburnum x burkwoodii 'Fulbrook' **Viburnum x burkwoodii 'Chenaultii' **Viburnum x carlcephalum **Viburnum x 'Conoy' **Viburnum x 'Chesapeake'

All three are great! If you look at ratings for fragrant viburnums, these three tend to lead the pack. A number of years ago, a nursery that I worked with at the time did a "sniff-off" of the early flowered scented viburnums so visitors could sample sniff the scent of each, much as Embothrium described. To my nose, juddii had the most intense and carrying aroma but all three smelled divine. The sense of smell is very subjective however, so what smells great to someone may smell rank or musty to someone else. I find the scent to be spicy sweet.....a little carnation, a little vanilla, a little clove, a little lilac. I wouldn't say no to any of the three!