City Flower of Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province

Daphne odora is an evergreen shrub of the genus Daphne of Daphneaceae, which is a traditional famous flower in China. Because of its short and sturdy plants, the tree shape is natural and unrestrained, so it is also known as Penglai flowers, romantic trees. Leaves alternate, thick, long oval; buds red, light white after blooming, small and many flowers, long-lasting aroma, florescence can be as early as the Spring Festival. The ornamental value is very high, and it is the top grade of potted ornamental plants.

Mezereum

Morphological features:

Evergreen erect shrubs; branches stout, usually dichotomous branched, branchlets subTerete, purplish red or purple-brown, glabrous. Leaves alternate, papery, oblong or Obovate-elliptic, 7-13 cm long and 2.5-5 cm wide, apex obtuse, base cuneate, margin entire, upper green, below light green, both surfaces glabrous, lateral veins 7-13 pairs, and midvein conspicuously elevated on both surfaces; petiole stout, 4-10 mm long, scattered rarely puberulent or glabrous.

Mezereum

Flowers purplish red outside, fleshy red inside, glabrous, several to 12 to form terminal head; bracts lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 5-8 mm long and 2-3 mm wide, glabrous, veins conspicuously raised; calyx tube tubular, 6-10 mm long, glabrous, lobes 4, cordate-ovate or ovate-lanceolate, base cordate, equal to or longer than calyx tube Stamens in 2 whorls, lower whorl stamens inserted above middle of calyx tube, anthers of upper whorl stamens 1 ram 2 protruding throat of calyx tube, filaments 0.7 mm long, anthers oblong, 2 mm long; ovary oblong, glabrous, apex obtuse, style short, stigma capitate. The fruit is red. The flowering period is from March to May and the fruiting period is from July to August.

Mezereum

Growth environment:

Although Daphne odora has been cultivated and domesticated, the requirement of the opposite environment is still high. It likes warm, humid, cool climate environment, can not bear severe cold; avoid summer heat; like weak light, avoid direct sunlight, suitable for dry and semi-shady land; like loose, well-drained fertile sand loam, poor growth in clayey soil and dry barren land; avoid stagnant water.