Shrub
Sweet mock orange
Philadelphus coronarius
A large deciduous shrub grown for intensely fragrant cream-white flowers in early summer. It is very hardy, grows in sun or partial shade and prefers moist but well-drained soil.
- Size
- 2–4 m high · 2–3 m wide
- Light
- Full sun / Partial shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Winter
- Very hardy
- Seasonal form
- Deciduous
- Maintenance
- Moderate
Before planting
- Allow enough room for a broad multi-stemmed shrub rather than planting it tight against paths or windows.
- Choose sun or partial shade and soil that holds some moisture without remaining waterlogged.
- Place it where the strong early-summer fragrance can be enjoyed near a path, terrace or seating area.
Why choose it
- Masses of heavily scented white flowers make it one of the strongest fragrance shrubs of early summer.
- It is cold-hardy and useful as an informal flowering screen or a substantial mixed-border shrub.
Care
- Water during establishment and prolonged dry periods, then mulch in spring to conserve soil moisture.
- After flowering, shorten badly placed flowered shoots and remove a few of the oldest stems when the centre becomes crowded.
- Avoid routine hard pruning before flowering, because established plants respond best to renewal after the display.
Good to know
- Pruning after flowering encourages new flowering wood while preserving the next season’s display better than late heavy pruning.