Photo: Daderot, CC0 · source
Pruning guide · Shrub
Mexican orange blossom (Choisya × dewitteana): when and how to prune
Choisya × dewitteana
Mexican orange blossom (Choisya × dewitteana) is best pruned in June.
| Pruning months | June |
|---|---|
| Nesting season (15 March–15 August) | Take care in June |
| Flowering | April–May and September–October |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Mexican orange blossom (Choisya × dewitteana): when to prune it?
Prune lightly in June, after the spring flowers.
What else to prune in those months? June
Mexican orange blossom (Choisya × dewitteana): how to prune it?
- Cut faded clusters and overlong shoots back to just above a leaf or side shoot.
- Remove dead and frost-damaged branches.
- An old, bare shrub can be cut back hard in spring; it will regrow, but flower less for a year.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: June.
- Prune in moderation: never remove more than about a third of the shrub at once.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Pruning in June can fall in the nesting season (15 March–15 August). Check carefully for nesting birds first: disturbing an active nest is against the law.
- Mexican orange blossom (Choisya × dewitteana) flowers in April–May and September–October, when it attracts bees.
- Prunings can go on a dead hedge or brash pile in a corner of the garden: shelter for hedgehogs, wrens and insects.
Common mistakes
- Clipping without first checking for nesting birds.
- Leaving a stub or sawing flush with the trunk: cut just outside the branch collar.
Caution: Do not prune in late summer or autumn: the young shoots that grow then are vulnerable to frost.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Mexican orange blossom (Choisya × dewitteana) · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.