Beverly Hoffman

Last week we had a sense of spring, with temperatures in the mid-50s and several days sun-drenched and lasting longer into the afternoon. With such days, we turn our thoughts to our spring and summer gardens.

Since we'll still have wintry days, we have time to consider how we want to change our garden. Perhaps this year we will stretch our five senses when we select new specimens.

We buy most plants for the way they look - their blooms. However in the past 10 years or so, many of us have added grasses that add a tactile dimension with their spiky counterbalance to soft blooms. Our gardens are becoming more and more texturally interesting.



Craving fragrance

We often think of fragrance when we

think of cut flowers but we forget to choose plants that add an element we crave.

A plant to consider that adds a citrus smell is the Philadelphus (mock orange). It's a shrub that needs little attention and maintains its health in most any soil or in sun/shade, although it blooms best in full sun. It is drought tolerant but needs water as it establishes itself and occasionally needs a bit of water to thrive.

The native plant is the Philadelphus lewisii, named in 1806 after Meriwether Lewis. Arthur Kruckeberg lists it as one of the 10 choice deciduous shrubs.

Its genetic makeup works well in our soil. The ovate leaves are slightly sand-papery to the touch. The snow-white clusters of blooms are large and fragrant on a 4- to 6-foot shrub.

As it begins to branch, the stems are red and fade to gray, and the bark shreds in small flakes, adding more textural interest. It begins to bloom in late May or June on arching vase-like branches covered with stunning, four-petaled single white flowers with yellow centers.

After the petals fall, the sepals remain, a four-pointed wing, and look like a second bloom.



Where to plant

Its scent intoxicates humans and bees with the smell of citrus and a hint of pineapple so it should be planted where its fragrance can waft through the garden. Since it attracts bees, it's best not to plant it near the front door.

Mock orange works well in borders or as a specimen plant. It is a vigorous grower and flowers faithfully. The Philadelphus are in the hydrangea family and can be pruned somewhat like them, cutting out old wood after they have bloomed.

The old wood can be surprisingly hard. Northwest native people used it to make combs, bows, arrows and fishing spears. If it gets leggy and more open (as it does in shade), it can be pruned vigorously, even to the ground. It's easily propagated from young wood, taken in mid-July.

Philadelphus lewisii is sometimes called syringa, which is confusing because the Latin name for lilacs is Syringa.

Mock orange is used synonymously with Choisya ternata. Philadelphus lewisii is listed occasionally as Philadelphus gordonianus. When buying, be careful to read the label and make certain the plant is fragrant.



Many choices

A variety of Philadelphus are not native, exotics from other countries. One is the sweet mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius) from southern Europe, which grows to 12 feet. The Aureus offers yellow foliage that ages into lime green and is more tightly compact in its structure but grows to about 12 feet high. The Philadelphus X virginalis, popular hybrids, have fragrant double flowers. Several popular cultivars are Minnesota Snowflake and Natchez.

Philadelphus X purpureomaculatus is another hybrid, and Belle Etoile is a choice cultivar that was listed as a 2008 "Great Plant Pick." It grows about 5 feet high and 6 feet wide with a sweet pineapple fragrance and its white fringed bloom has a maroon blotch in its center. It looks particularly attractive with other purple plants such as Penstemon "Blackbird."

Mock orange, with its sweet scent, adds a sensual dimension to a summer garden. It is underused but constant in its blooms without being the least bit needy - kind of like a perfect friend.



Beverly Hoffman can be reached at

columnists@sequimgazette.com.