Mock Orange Growing Guide

Philadelphus x virginalis, Philadelphus coronaria

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

Yes, mock oranges are winter hardy woody shrubs, tolerating cold to -26°C (-15°F).

Feeding

None generally needed.

Spacing

Single Plants: 1,80m (5' 10") each way (minimum)
Rows: 1,80m (5' 10") with 1,80m (5' 10") row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

The once popular Mock Orange is no longer easily available in South Africa but some nurseries do still sell it. Many old established gardens have it growing and it is very easy to grow from cuttings. Container-grown mock orange plants can be transplanted from spring to early summer. Amend the planting hole with organic matter to enhance drainage, and water thoroughly as you set plants slightly high in their planting holes. Water well, and cover the root zone with a biodegradable mulch to help maintain soil moisture. Check plant tags for the plant’s mature height and width, and adjust spacing accordingly. Young plants can be held in containers for a year or two if they are attentively watered. It does not grow well in extremely dry, hot or humid regions.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

One of the few shrubs grown for fragrance, mock orange perfumes the garden in early summer with its fruity aroma. Flowers are white, and may be single or double. Plant size varies with cultivar. Some can grow to 3 m (10 feet) tall, while many improved cultivars top out at half that size. Mock orange plants bloom on old wood, so pruning should be done in summer, soon after the plants finish blooming. Overgrown or untidy plants that are aggressively pruned quickly recover.

Harvesting

Bud-bearing mock orange stems provide structure and fragrance for cut flower arrangements with peonies and other flowers of early summer. Cut long stems just as the most mature buds begin to open. Mock oranges can be propagated by rooting stem cuttings taken in early summer, after the plants finish blooming.

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Mock Orange

Aphids (General)

Slug

Snail