Daphne odora (winter daphne, "Jinchoge")

Japanese name: ジンチョウゲ （沈丁花）
Scientific name: Daphne odora

[Overview]
An evergreen shrub about 1 m tall.
It branches well from the base, and the crown is rounded.
Young branches are tinged with purple.
The leaves are simple and alternate, oblanceolate, 4–9 cm long and 1.5–3 cm wide, thick and entire.
The upper surface of the leaf is dark green and glossy.
The leaves tend to cluster at the branch tips.
About 20 flowers are borne in a head at the branch tip.
The flowers have no petals but have a thick, 4-lobed calyx.
The calyx is purplish red on the outside and white on the inside.
The flowers have a strong fragrance.
It is dioecious.
The fruit is spherical, about 1 cm across, ripens red, and is poisonous.

[History]
It is said that only male plants arrived in Japan before the middle of the Muromachi period.
In recent years, female plants were introduced from China.

[Uses]
The flowers are used as a crude drug.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings or grafting.
It prefers weakly acidic soil rich in organic matter, but as long as the site is well drained, retains moisture and is out of the afternoon sun, it is not particular.
The northern limit for planting in the ground is the southern Tohoku region.
For plants in the ground, watering is not particularly necessary unless the soil becomes extremely dry.
Apply additional fertilizer in April, September and winter.
It is not well suited to pots.
The roots are weak, so large plants dislike being transplanted.
When repotting, take care not to damage the roots.
Prune as early as possible around April, after flowering has finished, and only thin out crowded branches.
Pests and diseases include white root rot, virus disease and aphids.

[Notes]
The Japanese name is said to compare the fragrance of the flowers to jinko (agarwood) and the shape of the flowers to choji (clove).

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