By far, Rose glorybower (Clerodendrun bungei) is not a favorite in this garden, though its October flowers are quite nice and it has proved to be indestructible in a bit of a difficult spot. This glorybower spreads by rhizomes, with occasional stems appearing eight or ten feet away, and several popping up in the lawn. These are easily removed, so this is of little concern, but in a shaded spot beneath a katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) the lanky stems pop up in an oddly scattered arrangement that is more weedy than ornamental (until it flowers).

While a bit hard to describe, stems or foliage that are handled emit an unpleasant scent that brings to mind peanut butter that’s been left in the sun too long. For the occasions when stems must be touched, I suggest gloves, but I’ve planted the more pleasant Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) nearby, which is sufficient to neutralize the rotten scent.

‘Eternal Fragrance’ daphne (Daphne x transatlantica ‘Blafra’, below) has become a garden favorite. Its fragrance is milder than the almost disgusting Glorybower, or the pleasant Mountain mint, but it flowers off and on from April until frost, and as daphnes go, it seems as rugged as anything in the garden in part sun or shade. 

While the foliage of ‘Eternal Fragrance’ is dull and unremarkable, its close cousin ‘Summer Ice’ (Daphne × transatlantica ‘Summer Ice’, below) improves on this with little sacrifice in toughness. In less than ideal spots with too much shade I’ve lost a few small shrubs, but in part sun I’ve been pleased with its growth. Both daphnes are flowering in mid October, certainly the last flush of blooms until spring.