Forest & Kim Starr
Family
Hydrangeaceae
Botanical Name
Philadelphus x virginalis
Plant Common Name
Mockorange
General Description
An upright, deciduous shrub with arching branches, virginal mockorange is beautiful and fragrant when bedecked with flowers for a couple of weeks in late spring or early summer. It is the result of a complex hybrid line which combined several mockorange species native to both North America and eastern Europe. Its leaves are medium to dark-green and slightly lighter beneath, oval with a rounded base and a pointed tip with some small teeth on the edges. In late spring, many stunning, fragrant, semi-double or double, white flowers appear in loose clusters all along the tall and lightly arching branches. They have a fragrance of sweet citrus. If moisture is adequate the flowers can continue sporadically across summer. After blooming, the plant is rather ordinary, and fall foliage at best is mottled yellow-green.
Grow virginal mockorange in full sun for best growth and flowering, but it handles partial shade well. Excelling in moist, fertile, well-drained soils that are acidic to slightly alkaline, it also shows some drought tolerance. If it gets too tall or leggy, prune it back severely after flowering and allow it to rejuvenate over the growing season. Use it as an informal screen or hedge, or as a magnificent specimen in the rear of the mixed border.
Several spectacular, fragrantly flowered cultivars have been selected over the years, and are perhaps better suited to the average garden. The very famous 'Minnesota Snowflake' is very cold hardy, 'Natchez' has single flowers, 'Miniature Snowflake' is a profuse bloomer and a much more compact plant, and 'Polar Star' often has a second flush of its semi-double blossoms in the autumn.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
7 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
5 - 8
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Sunset Zone
A3, 1a, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
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Plant Type
Shrub
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
6'-10' / 1.8m - 3.0m
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Width
4'-8' / 1.2m - 2.4m
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Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
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Native To
Hybrid Origin
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
White
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Dark Green, Yellow Green
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Bark Color
Brown, Sienna
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Double, Semi-Double
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Repeat Bloomer
Yes
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
Yes
