PHILADELPHUS

That;s the trouble with technology! It does have fragrant flowers, but I've never really understood why it's called mock orange, cos the smell's not particularly orangey. Half sun half shade's fine, full sun too if you want to water it often. Gets very large, needs pruning later, vigorous grower, a plant for the back of the border - unless you've bought a miniature version.

righto, dont think its a miniture. beginning to think maybe it should stay in its pot if its going to get really big, do you know whether its likely to cause trouble for any other plants at all? dont want it strangling anything (unless its pigeons)

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a lovely shrub that i have in full sun. soil is mid / too poor nutrient wise. the flowers are similar in shape to that of orange blossom. sweetly scented. prune after flowering or when it is too big for the space it is in.

sounds like a plant for near the fron door then enticing i hope

cheers peeps

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commonly known as mock orange because of the flowers looking like orange blossom.

glad you agree Stevebuk, my hubby didnt agree with me.

have just googles orange blossom and am looking forward to this so will def put in the ground

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One of my fave shrubs, Mookins. I'm only sorry that I don't have one in this garden. I've always had one in other houses.

I was told by my first employer in the floral business (she had been working since the 40's) that this was popular to use as a longer lived replacement for the traditional orange blossoms for the bride. It went out of fashion when Stephanotis became readily available as it is even longer lasting. Just a little interesting trivia. : )

I have this shrub and drastically cut it back this spring - it looked awful, very leggy (i'm not good at pruning). It is now looking much better and I usually get second flowering in late summer - I have uploaded a photo although not in flower now x

thanks for all the info peeps much appreciated and very interesting too ;o)

just a had a peek at your picture Janque isnt it pretty even without flowers, such healthy shiny leaves

am hoping the rain holds off so I can plant it this morning

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Thanks for the explanation Steve, now I know why it's called mock orange, and it's obviously not the fragrance. I'm not keen on this shrub, but I do like the yellow leaved version very much.

well its now happily spreading its roots by my front door and looks great

thanks for your help everyone

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Sorry Mookins I was wrong in thinking I had this shrub! Spritz advised me that mine is a Choisya. My only weak defence is that they both have the word 'orange' in them - mock orange and mexican orange blossom. As you can see, I am easily confused!! xxx

hehe arent we all hun
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