Mexican orange blossom

Mexican orange blossom: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Rounded, dense evergreen shrub of 1.5–2.5 m.

Leaf

Opposite, trifoliate: three untoothed, glossy, elongated leaflets (3–8 cm) on one stalk; with translucent oil glands, strongly aromatic when crushed.

Twigs

Green, later greyish-brown twigs.

Flower

White, star-shaped flowers (about 3 cm) in clusters at the shoot tips in April–May, often a second flush in late summer; scented like orange blossom.

Fruit

Rare in our climate: small, dry fruits that split into segments.

Difference from mock orange

Mock orange is deciduous, with simple, toothed leaves.

Difference from Japanese skimmia

Skimmia has simple leaves in rosettes and red buds in winter.

Flowering: April–May · Pruning: May–June

Identify by feature: Evergreen leaves

Looks like it, but isn’t

• Mock orange Philadelphus coronarius: deciduous, with simple, toothed leaves. Difference from mock orange
• Japanese skimmia Skimmia japonica: simple leaves in rosettes and red buds in winter. Difference from Japanese skimmia

Why grow it?

• Fragrant white flowers in April–May, and often again in late summer.
• Glossy evergreen leaves that look fresh all year.
• Compact and rounded: fits into a small garden or a large pot.
• Bees visit the fragrant flowers.

Mexican orange blossom: where does it grow best?

• Sun or partial shade; in sun it flowers best.
• A sheltered spot, out of cold east winds: against a wall or among other shrubs.
• Any free-draining soil, acid or chalky; no wet feet, especially in winter.
• Allow 2 m width.

Light

Sun or partial shade

Legal basis

Any garden soil

Moisture

Normal

Size

2 m tall, 2 m wide

Hardiness

Throughout Belgium, no protection needed

Goes well with

• Rosemary: Another aromatic evergreen for a sheltered, sunny spot.
• English lavender: Also fragrant and sun-loving: together a scented edging along a terrace.
• Star jasmine: Fragrant white flowers against the same sheltered wall, just after the orange blossom.

Good and bad companions

Goes well with

• Suits the woodland edge or the light shade of: ginkgo, box elder, ash, honey locust, field maple, silver maple

Mexican orange blossom: when and how to plant it?

1. Plant in spring (April–May), so that it is well rooted before winter.
2. Dig a generous planting hole and mix in compost; on heavy soil, add some coarse grit too.
3. Plant at the same depth as before and water generously.
4. In a pot: choose a large pot with a drainage hole and free-draining compost.

Care

Watering

In dry spells during the first year; regularly in pots.

Feeding

A little compost or organic fertiliser in spring.

Mulch

A layer of compost or wood chips keeps the soil moist and protects the roots in winter.

Pots

In winter, move the pot to a sheltered spot against a wall and wrap it in hard frost.

Tip: Plant it by a terrace, a path or a window: the flowers are fragrant, and every time you brush past the leaves you’ll catch their spicy citrus scent.

Mexican orange blossom: when to prune it?

Pruning months: May–June.

When: After flowering (May–June).

How:

• Shorten faded shoots to keep the shrub compact.
• A leggy or overgrown shrub sprouts again after hard pruning: cut a few old branches low down.

Caution: Only cut back frost-damaged branches in April, once you can see where it is sprouting again.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Cuttings

Semi-ripe cuttings of about 10 cm root in July–August under glass or plastic.

Mexican orange blossom: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy throughout Belgium: no protection needed.

• Tolerates about −10 °C without damage. In harder or prolonged frost, especially with cold east winds, leaves and twigs are killed; it usually sprouts again in spring.
• In hard frost, cover young plants with horticultural fleece and move pots to shelter against the house.

Diseases and pests

• Frost damage: Brown leaves and dead shoot tips after a hard winter. Wait until April, then cut back to where it is sprouting again.
• Wet soil: On wet, heavy soil the roots rot in winter. Plant it in a free-draining spot or in a pot.
• Bare shrub: Older shrubs become bare at the base. After flowering, cut a few old branches low down; it will sprout again.

Through the year

• January: Move pots to shelter and wrap them in hard frost.
• April: Flowering begins; cut back frost-damaged branches; plant.
• May: Full flower; prune after flowering.
• June: Last pruning month.
• July: Take semi-ripe cuttings.
• August: Often a second flush of flowers.
• December: Cover young plants in hard frost.

What can you use it for?

Garden and landscape

Fragrant evergreen shrub for a sheltered spot in sun or partial shade; also in a large pot.

For wildlife

Bees visit the fragrant flowers.

Caution: May be damaged by frost in severe winters; plant it in a sheltered spot, out of cold east winds.

Did you know?

• Related to citrus fruits: hold a leaf up to the light and you will see the translucent oil glands, just as in a lemon leaf.
• The genus name Choisya honours the Swiss botanist Jacques Denis Choisy.