Mock orange

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; flowering is best with at least six hours of direct sun.

Water

Moderate; keep newly planted shrubs evenly moist. Established plants tolerate short dry spells, but benefit from deep watering during prolonged drought.

Soil

Well-drained soil, including clay, loam and chalk; tolerates acidic, neutral and alkaline conditions. Avoid persistently waterlogged ground.

Height

8-12 ft (2.4-3.7 m)

Spread

8-12 ft (2.4-3.7 m)

Flowers

Late spring to early summer; clusters of creamy-white, four-petalled flowers with a strong orange-blossom scent.

Foliage

Opposite, oval, pointed green leaves with toothed edges; autumn colour is usually modest, sometimes pale yellow.

Growth

Moderate to fast

Care needed

Medium

• Water deeply during dry weather for the first two growing seasons.
• Apply a 2-3 in (5-8 cm) mulch of compost or bark in spring, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or the soil is poor; excess nitrogen encourages leaves rather than flowers.
• Allow room for its mature width rather than keeping it small by repeated clipping.
• Water established shrubs during prolonged drought, especially while flower buds are developing.

Pruning. Prune immediately after flowering, shortening flowered shoots to strong young growth and removing up to one-third of the oldest stems at ground level. Avoid routine winter pruning or hedge clipping, which removes wood that would carry the next flowers.

Early spring

Plant while dormant if the ground is workable and not waterlogged; water thoroughly.

Spring

Refresh mulch and give a light feed only where growth or soil fertility is poor.

Late spring

Check young shoots for aphids and rinse off small colonies with water.

Early summer

After flowering, prune flowered shoots and remove some of the oldest stems.

Summer

Water during prolonged dry spells and take softwood cuttings from healthy, non-flowering shoots.

Autumn

Plant container-grown shrubs while the soil is moist and still warm, allowing time to establish before hard freezes.

• Place near a path or seating area where the flower scent can be enjoyed, leaving enough space for arching branches.
• Use in an informal flowering hedge with lilacs, weigelas and other deciduous shrubs.
• Plant at the back of a mixed border, with summer-flowering perennials in front to provide interest after its flowers fade.
• Use as a tall backdrop in a white garden with white foxgloves, hardy geraniums and roses.

Garden styles it suits: English country, Cottage garden, Traditional, Sensory garden, White garden and Native hedgerow.

Plant it with: Lilac, Weigela, Shrub roses, Hardy geraniums, Catmint and Foxgloves.

Wildlife: Single flowers provide pollen and nectar for visiting insects. Mature, densely branched shrubs can offer shelter and nesting cover for birds.

• Aphids can gather on soft shoots; wash them off with water and encourage ladybirds and other predators.
• Poor flowering usually follows pruning at the wrong time, too much shade or excessive nitrogen; prune only after bloom, improve light and reduce feeding.
• Powdery mildew may affect crowded or drought-stressed plants; improve airflow, water the root zone during drought and remove badly affected fallen leaves.
• Waterlogged soil can cause root decline; improve drainage or move the shrub rather than continuing to water.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people; no part is generally recognised as poisonous. It is not a food plant, and eating substantial amounts of leaves or other material may cause stomach upset.

• Japanese mock orange (Pittosporum tobira)

  An evergreen shrub with thick, glossy leaves clustered near shoot tips and smaller, waxy flowers; Philadelphus coronarius loses its thinner, toothed leaves in winter.

• Fuzzy deutzia (Deutzia scabra)

  Usually has rough, hairy leaves and upright clusters of smaller, five-petalled flowers with little scent; mock orange has larger, strongly fragrant flowers with four petals.

The common name refers to the flowers' resemblance and scent to orange blossom, while coronarius means 'used for garlands'.

Propagation. Take softwood cuttings in early summer or semi-ripe cuttings later in summer. Low branches can also be layered; seed-grown plants may vary, and named cultivars should be propagated by cuttings or layering.

Accepted botanical name

Philadelphus coronarius

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

North Caucasus, Transcaucasus and Turkey.

Measured

Soil pH 5.3 to 7.5. Average height 259 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.