Philadelphus coronarius
Sweet Mockorange

Family:

Hydrangeaceae (Hydrangea Family) 35

Genus:

Philadelphus (Mock Orange Mockorange) 5

Plant Type:

Shrub 492

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 4 497

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 807

Flowers:

White (Sweetly fragrant white flowers (1.5" dia.) in 5-7 flowered racemes; spring)

Foliage:

Green (Dark green summer foliage with no appeciable fall color change)

Fruit:

Yellow (Persistent 4-valved capsule; not ornamentally important)

Ultimate Height:

8-15 feet

Ultimate Spread:

4-10 feet

Light Requirements:

Soil:

Widely adapted to different soils, even dry soils

Range:

Southern Europe

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves opposite, simple, ovate, 1.5-4" long by 0.5-2" wide, with remotely dentate margins and a hairy petiole.

Special Characteristics:

Flowering Characteristics 463

Fragrant Flowers 174

Additional Information

Well adapted to different light (even shade) and soil conditions, especially to dry situations. Relatively trouble-free, and one of the most fragrant of the mockoranges. None of the mockoranges have much landscape interest after the season of bloom. Becomes leggy if not pruned. Pruning should be done after flowering (flower buds form on previous years wood), and to maintain fullness of form.