Shrub
Mexican orange blossom
Choisya ternata
A rounded evergreen shrub with glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers in spring. It suits sheltered gardens with mild winters; colder climates call for a careful overwintering plan.
- Size
- 1.5–2.5 m high · 1.5–2.5 m wideVaries by cultivar
- Light
- Full sun / Partial shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Winter
- Needs protection
- Seasonal form
- Evergreen
- Maintenance
- Moderate
Before planting
- Allow about 1.5–2.5 m in height and width over 10–20 years in suitable garden conditions. This is not a dwarf shrub.
- Choose sun or partial shade and fertile, freely draining soil. It tolerates acidic to alkaline conditions but dislikes waterlogging.
- It prefers mild winters and shelter from cold winds. Where severe frost occurs, plan a movable container and a bright, frost-free winter space.
Why choose it
- White, orange-scented flowers usually appear in late spring; a lighter repeat in late summer or autumn is possible, not guaranteed.
- Glossy evergreen leaves give year-round structure. In a suitable mild climate it makes a rounded specimen or an informal flowering hedge.
Care
- Water during dry spells through the first year. Established shrubs tolerate brief droughts; containers need more frequent checks.
- Pruning is optional. If shaping is needed, trim lightly after the main flowering; assess and remove frost-damaged shoots in spring.
- Keep container drainage clear and avoid soggy compost in winter. Mulch garden plants without piling material against the stems.
Good to know
- In Poland, container culture with frost-free winter shelter is more reliable. Ground overwintering remains an experiment for the warmest, sheltered sites, with winter protection.
- The name describes the flower scent. This is Choisya, not an orange tree; narrow-leaved Choisya hybrids are outside this species profile.