Illuminati Spice® Mock Orange (Philadelphus)
Shrub
- Highly fragrant citrus scent is irresistible to bees.
- Cheery white double blooms appear in early summer.
- Disease-resistant, deer-resistant & non-invasive!
- Groundbreaking mock orange variety from Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs.
- Zones 4-8, full sun/part sun, up to 4′ tall x 4′ wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Mock orange is a fragrant deciduous shrub that will make you smile whenever you see it! Whether you plant it as a hedge, in a sunny garden, or incorporate it into your home landscaping, mock orange will surely delight garden-goers and pollinators in summer. They have a relatively fast growth rate and are also cold-tolerant, so you won’t have to wait long or perform much maintenance.
Details
Common name: Mock orange
Zone: 4-8
Sun exposure: Sun (6+ hours sun), Part sun (4-6 hrs sun/day)
Height x width: 4’-4'
Flower color: White
Foliage color: Green
Season of Interest: Summer
Bloom time: Early summer
Features: Rare & unusual, rabbit resistant, Proven Winners, low flammability, fragrant, deer resistant, best for beginners, clay soil
Uses: Accent, border, container gardening, edging, foundation planting, low hedge.
How to Grow
Light: Full to part sun. Can be grown in shade, but flowering will be severely limited with less than four hours of good light each day.
Water: Average water needs; drought tolerant once established.
Spacing: 3-4′
Fertilizing: If desired, fertilize monthly from early spring through late-July with a rose fertilizer.
Winterizing: A 2-3” layer of shredded bark mulch is a good idea.
Maintenance & Pruning: Blooms on old wood; prune after flowering if desired or required. Benefits from periodic rejuvenation pruning.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.