Sweet Mock Orange

Plant Name:  Philadelphus Coronarius
Common name:  Sweet Mock Orange, Sweet Syringa
Plant type: Deciduous shrub
Height: 3-10 ft (depends on variety)
Spread:   3-6 ft
Bloom Time:  Mid to Late Spring
Flower Color:  White, Creamy White
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Requirements: Tolerates a range of soils including clay, but prefers moist, well-drained soils high in organic matter.
Water Needs: Medium
Attributes:   Very fragment flowers, Attracts pollinators (especially butterflies), Deer resistant
Note:   Prune to control height, popular ornamental shrub
Uses: Woodlands, Foundation plantings, Shrub borders, Cottage garden, Hedge, Sitting garden, Sunny edges, English garden,
Native to: Northern Asia and Japan, Western United States, Southern Atlantic coast of USA and Mexico
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9 (depends on variety)

There are many hybrid varieties of Philadelphus Coronarius, below are few of the popular ones:

Philadelphus x lemoinei Hybrids   Hardiness zone 4-8
‘Avalanche’ – Low-growing 3.5′ tall, Arching branches. Very fragrant single flowers about 1″ across.
‘Belle Etoile’ – 6′ tall, Single white flowers with a dark center blotch.
‘Innocence’ – Very fragrant, 8′ tall, single white blooms,  slightly variegated leaves.

Philadelphus x virginalis Hybrids:  Hardiness zone 5-9 ( unless noted otherwise)
‘Philadelphus pallidus’ 6’ tall, snow-white double flowers, rich green color leaves
‘Minnesota Snowflake’ – Popular selection, 6′ tall, double, pure white blooms, very fragrant 2″ wide flowers
‘Virginal’ – An old-fashioned cultivar,10’tall, double blooms with intense fragrance.
‘Natchez’ – One of the best. 10’tall, Covered with 2″ white fragrant blooms in May. Hardiness zone 4-7

Dwarf  Hybrids
‘Miniature Snowflake’ – 4′ tall, double white flowers, fragrant, dark green foliage. Hardiness zone 4-7
‘Manteau d’Hermine’ –  Compact 2-3’ tall, profuse heavily perfumed blooms. Hardiness zone 5-9
‘Illuminati Tiny Tower’– Narrow upright shrub 3-4’ tall. Space-saving, fragrant flowers Hardiness zone 4-7

Fragrant Annuals

Annual plants fill-in the “flower gap” in your perennial garden and there are a many beautiful annuals your can choose, but below are some of the most fragrant!

Stocks (Matthiola incana)stocks_matthiola_incana_-photo-by-protoplasmakid.jpg
Height:  1-3 ft
Bloom Time: May-July
Flower Colors Available in:  Blue, White, Pink, Yellow, Red
Exposure: Full Sun-Part Shade
Attributes: Dense Showy clusters of cove-scented flowers, Deer Tolerant
Uses: Border gardens, Containers, Moon Garden (white flowers), Cut Garden, Bouquets

Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus)sweet-pea-e1526493728960.jpg
Height:  3-8 ft
Bloom Time: May – July  (In cool weather areas, blooms until fall)
Flower Colors Available in:  All colors ( Except Yellow)
Exposure:  Full Sun (but, not in high heat areas)
Attributes:  Fragrant Colorful Climber
Uses:  Border Gardens, Cottage Garden
Note: Needs to grow on a support structure such as a trellis, a fence, stakes with strings or a bamboo pyramid.  Plants do poorly in high heat & humid areas! Sweet pea fruits are inedible and poisonous to humans.

Sweet alyssumSweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritime)
Height: 3-6 inches
Bloom Time: April – June
Flower Colors Available in:  White, Purple, Pink, Lavender, Violet
Exposure: Full sun – partial shade
Attributes:  Ground plant, Delicate Flowers, Fragrant, Re-seeds
Uses: Flowerbed Edges, Containers, Hanging Baskets, Window Boxes

Nicotiana (Nicotiana alata)nicotiana-alata-e1526493875640.jpg
Height: 3-5 ft.
Flower Colors Available in:  Red, White, Purple, Pink, Yellow, Pale Green
Exposure: Full sun – partial shade
Attributes:   Tubular flowers star-shaped fragrant flowers
Uses: Attracts Birds & Butterflies, Fragrant, Moon Garden (White flowers)

Four o’clocks (Mirabilis jalapa)4 oclock_Mirabilis jalapa
Height: 2-3 ft.
Bloom Time: June- Frost
Flower Colors Available in:  Red, Pink, Rose, Magenta, White, Sometimes Striped
Exposure: Full Sun
Attributes:  Trumpet-shaped flowers, Blooms in late afternoon, Attracts Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds.  Note: All parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested!

Horticulture Report: Calycanthus ‘Venus’

Plant Name: Calycanthus ‘Venus’Calycanthus Venus
Common Name: Sweetshrub
Plant type: Deciduous shrub
Height: 8-10 ft
Spread:   5-7 ft
Bloom Time:  May to July
Flower Color:  White,  with purple & yellow centers
Exposure: Full Sun or Part Shade (tolerates being almost in full shade)
Soil Requirements: Rich well-drained loam, but tolerates clay soil
Water Needs: Medium moist
Attributes:Showy Magnolia-like fragrant flowers, Glossy green leaves, Fall color
Note: Prune out root suckers to prevent spreading
Uses:  Hedge, Accent or Specimen Plant, Foundation Plantings, Cut Flowers, Naturalizing
Native to: Hybridized patented plant by Dr. Tom Ranney, North Carolina State University
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9

 

 

 

(Available at Forest Farms Nursery, Williams Oregon)

Oregon Natives

Plant Name: Philadelphus lewisii20170607_152255
Common Name:  Lewis’ mock-orange
Plant type: Deciduous shrub
Height: 6- 10 feet
Spread:   3-4 feet
Bloom Time:  Late Spring & Early Summer
Flower Color: White
Exposure:  Full Sun to Partial Shade
Soil Requirements: Will grow in poor soils
Water Needs: Medium, but Drought tolerate
Attributes:   Highly Fragrant Flowers!
Scent similar to orange blossoms
Rarity: Wide spread native, but not common.
Uses: Native plantings, Xeriscaping, Fragrant Garden
Native to: Western N. America – British Colombia , Washington, Oregon, California, East to Montana
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-10

Photo by: Carlotta Lucas
Date: June 7, 2017
Location: Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument