Sundance Mexican orange

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; morning sun and afternoon shade suit hot climates. Deep shade makes the foliage greener, while fierce sun can scorch it.

Water

Water regularly during establishment, then during prolonged dry spells. Established plants tolerate some drought, but not persistently wet roots.

Soil

Well-drained soil, including sandy, loamy or chalky soils; tolerates a range of soil pH. Avoid waterlogged clay.

Height

5-8 ft (1.5-2.4 m)

Spread

5-8 ft (1.5-2.4 m)

Flowers

Clusters of fragrant white flowers in late spring to early summer, sometimes followed by a smaller autumn flush.

Foliage

Evergreen. Aromatic leaves with three broad leaflets; bright yellow when young, often becoming yellow-green as they mature, especially in shade.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen
• Fragrant

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   2.6 ft (0.79 m)

3. After 2 years

   4 ft (1.1 m)

4. After 3 years

   4 ft (1.4 m)

5. After 5 years

   6 ft (2 m)

   full size

About 5 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant in a sheltered position away from cold, drying winds.
• Water deeply during the first growing season whenever the root zone begins to dry.
• Apply compost or a modest dose of balanced fertiliser in spring if growth is weak; avoid heavy feeding.
• Mulch annually with 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of compost or bark, keeping it clear of the stems.
• In containers, use free-draining potting mix and check moisture regularly.

Pruning. Prune lightly just after the main spring flowering, shortening wayward shoots to maintain a rounded shape. Remove frost-damaged growth in spring once new growth shows which stems are alive; avoid autumn pruning in cold areas.

Spring

Check for winter damage and remove dead shoots once new growth begins.

Spring

Plant where winters are cold; mulch and feed lightly if needed.

Late spring

After the main flowers fade, lightly prune any shoots that spoil the shape.

Summer

Water young plants during dry weather and check exposed foliage for sun scorch.

Late summer

Take semi-ripe cuttings from healthy, non-flowering shoots.

Autumn

Plant in mild regions while the soil is still warm, but avoid pruning or feeding.

Winter

Protect exposed young plants during severe freezes and make sure pots drain freely.

• Use as a golden evergreen anchor in a mixed border with purple salvias and hardy geraniums.
• Plant against a dark hedge or fence to make the yellow foliage stand out.
• Group as an informal low hedge or screen in a sheltered garden.
• Grow in a large, well-drained container near a patio where the flowers' scent can be enjoyed.

Garden styles it suits: English country, Modern courtyard, Cottage garden, Low-maintenance, Sensory garden and Winter interest.

Plant it with: Hardy geranium, Purple sage, Lavender, Catmint, Purple-leaved Japanese barberry and Daffodil.

Wildlife: The scented flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects. Dense evergreen growth offers some shelter for small garden animals.

• Leaf scorch: pale leaves may develop dry brown patches in strong sun or drying winds; provide afternoon shade, shelter and adequate water.
• Root rot: wilting and dieback can follow prolonged waterlogging; improve drainage and avoid frequent watering of already moist soil.
• Frost damage: severe cold can blacken leaves and kill shoot tips; shelter the plant and prune damaged growth after spring growth starts.
• Slugs and snails: young shoots can be chewed; check after dark, remove pests and protect vulnerable new plants.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses; no plant parts are generally recognised as poisonous. It is ornamental rather than edible, and eating foliage may still cause stomach upset.

• Mexican orange blossom (Choisya ternata)

  The ordinary species has green rather than golden-yellow leaves and generally flowers more freely.

• Aztec Pearl Mexican orange (Choisya 'Aztec Pearl')

  Its green leaves have much narrower leaflets, usually three to five per leaf, giving a finer texture.

• Mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius)

  Also has fragrant white flowers, but its leaves are simple, toothed and deciduous rather than evergreen and divided into three leaflets.

Choisya honours Swiss botanist Jacques Denis Choisy, ternata refers to the three leaflets, and Mexican orange describes the plant's origin and orange-blossom-like scent.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer and root them in a free-draining medium under humid, sheltered conditions. Cuttings preserve the golden foliage; seedlings will not reliably match the parent.

Accepted botanical name

Choisya ternata

Native range

Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast and Mexico Southwest.

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