Mockorange

(Philadelphus spp.) is a fragrant, white-flowering shrub native to Europe, Canada and the western and northwestern United states.

Grown for its fragrant spring flowers, mockorange are used as specimen plants and in groupings for borders and screens.

They provide spring interest when they produce a profusion of fragrant flowers that smell like orange blossoms.

Description

2 to 10 feet in mature height
2 to 10 feet in mature width
Deciduous
Oval or rounded plant form
Medium growth rate
1- to 2-inch, white, sweetly-fragrant, four-petaled flowers in June; cultivars with double flowers have 8-30 petals
Small, non-ornamental, 4-valved woody seed capsules

Hardiness zone: 3 to 8 depending on cultivar
Full sun to light shade; best bloom occurs in full sun
Adaptable to sandy, loam, or clay soils
Moist, well-drained soil; avoid wet soils with poor drainage
Soil pH 4.0 - 7.0, but tolerates higher pH; Have your soil tested by the U of M Soil Testing Lab

Needs occasional pruning to maintain an attractive shape. Prune immediately after blooming ends.

See What's wrong with my plant? – Mockorange for a list of the most common mockorange pests in Minnesota.

Mockorange cultivated varieties can vary in plant characteristics including flower size and fragrance, growth habit, leaf color and plant hardiness.

Recommended cultivars for Minnesota include:

'Aureus' - 6 feet tall by 5 feet wide, gold spring foliage, fragrant single flowers, compact growth

Flowers and yellow spring foliage of golden mockorange (‘Aureus’)
'Blizzard' - 5 feet tall by 3 feet wide, fragrant single flowers in clusters, compact growth, good winter hardiness
Buckley's Quill' - 6 feet tall by 4 feet wide, fragrant double flowers

'Miniature Snowflake' - 3 feet tall by 2 feet wide, very fragrant double flowers, dwarf / compact growth
'Minnesota Snowflake' - 8 feet tall by 6 feet wide, fragrant double flowers
'Snowbelle' - 4 feet tall by 4 feet wide, very fragrant double flowers, compact growth
First Editions®Snow White™ - 6 feet tall by 5 feet wide, fragrant double flowers in clusters, repeat bloom in spring and summer

Beth Berlin, former Extension educator; Kathy Zuzek, former Extension educator; and Julie Weisenhorn, Extension educator

Reviewed in 2018