Daphne "Summer Ice"

Is somebody growing this bush?
Wondering how fast it's growing? How much space should i leave around it if it's gallon size plant right now?
Do i need to leave this space empty or plant some annual while daphne is still small?
Should i plan on planting it right away (I am going to buy it from local nursery this week) or should i wait for warmer days? What small plants will look nice in front of it ? Area where i plan to plant daphne is a corner, daphne supposed to be in a very corner with couple feet of border available for some other plants.

Brier, did you ever hear anything about this one? I have no info so can't help. Sorry! (Sure do love the name.)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/pacificnw/2005/0213/plant.html

Just googled the name and came up with this. Any help?

This is actually the place where i have read about this daphne, just wanted to ask if anybody on forum has personal experience growing it. I checked with my nursery, they just recently got it but i am still not sure should i buy it right now and plant right now or should i wait for warmer days. Sure, i'll ask people at the nursery, but i found that they are not always reliable if they don't have personal experience with certain plant.

Brier - if they have more than one - wait, let the nursery have the worry of getting it through the bad weather. And you can get on with working out what you would like to plant with it. If there is one that you think is just perfect, better shape, size, leaf than all the others, and none of the others are nearly as good as that one particular one, buy it now.

That is how I decide on all of the plants I buy.

Hey, Growin, where are you - may we have some good plant combinations to go with Brier's Daphne?

Brier- the Daphne 'Summer Ice' is a very long blooming and beautiful plant with a moderate growth rate. It is also very cold hardy (for your area) and will usually bloom occasially throughout the winter in the PNW! If the plants you are interested in purchasing have been in a heated greenhouse it would be good to wait untill any hard freezes are over. It they our acclimated to the outside temps then planting now shouldn't pose a problem.

This Daphne is a deep rooting variety and can't handle being dried out, especially in summer. For this reason, I would recommend getting planted in the ground as early in the year as safely possible so that roots have a chance to establish themselves before summer. Also, be sure to provide well drained but MOIST soil throughout the year with some light but frequent waterings in summer and as needed.

The 'Summer Ice' will also grow more rounded shaped in higher amounts of sun with slower growth and possible heavier flowering. With more shade, it will probably grow more upright in a vase shape with slightly less flowering and deeper green color to the foliage. I have some growing in both locations and they have done very well in each condition and look great.

I would also recommend planting the plants you purchase right away instead of keeping in containers as the watering can be tricky to get right on containers over a long period of time. If left in containers, don't overwater or let dry out. Good luck with your planting and enjoy!

Great info and lovely photo - I'm ready to go out and buy one as well!!!

Thank you, Troy, this is info that i was looking for. I hope this princess will not die on me like some daphne can do (my neighbor told me don't buy daphne, they can die without any reason). Will see.

Any ideas from your garden about plant combination that work with this baby?

Murmur, would be interested to share pictures when they start growing!

Good idea, Brier, and I really am going to look for one.

I suspect all varieties of Daphne would do well in the Puget Sound region. Soil characteristics change radically on the east side of the mountains. We fight to keep zone 6 plants alive here. Zone 4 are generally safe. My most favorite ground cover here is "Snow in Summer". It is Zone 2.