Mock orange

Philadelphus coronarius

Deciduous shrub with single white four-petalled cup flowers carrying intense citrus-blossom fragrance through early summer. The most fragrant common garden shrub for cool temperate climates.

Hardiness ratings

Mock orange hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 4–8 −34.4 °C to −6.7 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H6 −20 °C to −15 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 4–8 −29 °C to −1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 2–5 −10 °C to 10 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Plant where the fragrance can be enjoyed close at hand — fragrance fills the surrounding air in early summer (May–June)
  • Cut back hard after flowering — flowers on previous year’s wood, so pruning timing matters
  • Not related to orange (Citrus) — the name reflects the fragrance only
  • Compact cultivars (‘Belle Etoile’, ‘Manteau d’Hermine’) suit smaller gardens

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Mock orange against your zones

Reference

Mock orange on Wikipedia