Plant of the week
Philadelphus – The Mock Orange
Each week, OGV sub-committee member, Gayle Parkes presents the 'Plant of the Week'. She also posts to OGV's Instagram - make sure you check back weekly for her latest post. This week Gayle brings us one of her favourite deciduous shrubs, Philadelphus.
This genus is a member of the hydrangea (Hydrangeaceae) family and is made up of around 60 species of mainly deciduous shrubs. They occur naturally in the temperate regions of East Asia, the Himalayas, south-eastern Europe, and Central and North America.
Philadelphus has to be one of my favourite families of deciduous shrubs. When wandering through a garden it is always the intoxicating scent of citrus that rouses the senses, long before this wonderful shrub comes into our vision. The perfume of the flower is very similar to that of orange blossom, hence the common name of “mock orange”. The botanical name, Philadelphus is Greek for “brotherly love”. It is a mystery to me why this very versatile plant isn’t more popular, because it deserves to be. I love the “old fashioned” shrubs that remind me of the days when my sister and I would run through the country gardens in central Victoria when visiting my nan. I vividly remember gathering bunches of philadelphus, lilac, spirea, weigela, the fluffy snowballs of viburnum and golden/brown wallflowers.
Mock oranges are densely twiggy bushes with some varieties growing quite large. They often have peeling bark with simple, light green, lance-shaped leaves that have hairy undersides in some species. The slightly squarish creamy white flowers grow in loose clusters on attractive arching stems in late spring and early summer. Depending on the variety, the perfumed blooms can be single, semi-double, or double.
I planted the four more easily found varieties in my last large garden and I must say, I do miss them at this time of year. They are all vigorous growers and such great performers, needing very little care. They were great for filling a large space in my borders. Philadelphus mexicanus is bullet proof, Philadelphus coronarius with its long arching branches I love, Philadelphus virginalis is large and has double flowers with perhaps the best fragrance of them all, but my favourite is Philadelphus Belle Etoile. “Belle Etoile” in French means “beautiful star”. With it’s fountain-like habit and arching cane-like stems, masses of simple cup shaped flowers of pure white petals with a pink blush at the base and fluffy yellow stamens, it is this superb shrub with its spicy fragrance that I will be hunting down for my new small garden.
Philadelphus species and cultivars are hardy plants that are easily grown. You know the ones… Plant, sit back and enjoy! They do best in a position in full sun to partial shade, in moist well-drained soil. Naturally, planting in full sun will increase flower production. When planting your mock orange in the garden make sure you dig a deep hole, so its roots have enough room to spread out. Use compost or manure to support new growth and cover the surrounding soil in mulch to maintain soil moisture. The Philadelphus is quite drought-tolerant once it's established but you'll need to give your new plant regular drinks, making sure the soil doesn't dry out between watering. You can lightly trim after flowering and thin any congested growth. Propagate from softwood cuttings taken in summer, or hardwood cuttings taken in autumn and winter.
While the delicious aroma of the mock orange is a major selling point it's important to note that not all varieties are as fragrant. The best course of action is to buy your plant during late spring when it is already in flower. Head down to your local garden centre and get smelling! If they do not have any in stock, a good nurseryman will always get one in for you. And remember, their scent is most powerful after the sun has set so if you can, like I intend to, choose one for a garden bed outside your bedroom window. I can’t wait to have a sweet little bunch in a pretty crystal vase sitting on my entry washstand, with their heady perfume wafting through our home.