Philadelphus, Mockorange, Virginal Mock Orange

Mock oranges are not commonly available in this area, perhaps due to a belief that they are not winter-hardy here (they are). I bought t...Read Morehe variety 'Minnesota Snowflake,' the only variety I could find locally, several years ago. Reading that it was suitable for full sun to partial sun, I planted it in a spot where it gets full sun from Noon onward. The Deutzia and Korean lilac growing nearby have never had a problem with this siting. I let the mock orange grow as it wished. Within a few years it was a large bush, albeit a rather boring, nondescript one. I started with a plant in a 5-gallon pot, so it's not like I was waiting for some quart-sized seedling to become something. Five years after planting it was over six feet tall, almost as wide, and FINALLY produced a single flower at the very top. The following year there were no flowers at all so, my patience at an end, I cut it down to the ground and that was the end of that. If the plant had any redeemable features when not in flower it might have some value, but without flowers I have no use for it.

Thanks to the Plant Identification Forum on DG, I now know that the shrub by our porch is Philadelphus x virginalis. I can second the co...Read Moremment by the member who noted the value of pruning back....last year, when we moved in and I inherited this mystery plant, it was sickly, anemic and super leggy. I pruned it and fed it and watered it and this year it grew twice as big and with a much fuller shape. Have several branches of blossoms this year, whereas last year only had a couple total blossoms. The leaves are prone to getting gnarly and weird so I appreciate the tip about leaf borers that another member posted. This plant is in full sun/west side of house, in pretty dry (and crummy) soil, yet doing well so far.

Growing up in Chicago, my father had a beautiful mock orange that never failed to bloom profusely. I planted mine in Granbury Texas 10 y...Read Moreears ago. I have tried the superphosphate and we are seeing a few blossoms each year. We do prune right after flowering hoping to see a good display the following year. I don't think we have enough chilling temps here for the display I wish for. The plant looks very healthy and has grown to maturity.

Intense, orange like fragrance on a profusely blooming shrub. Cut back back half immediately after bloom to force fresh growth for next ...Read Moreyear's blossoms if you'd like. My shrub is about 3 years old and stands about 7 feet tall, spraying out gorgeous cascades of snow white blooms that the bees go crazy for.