Comments on: A Hardy Mockorange

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 18:02:21 +0000

Anne, the regular mockorange (Philadelphus virginalis) can develop an awkward shape. If you wanted to keep it, you could try cutting back a third of the older main branches right to the ground, and repeat for the next two years, until all of the older branches are gone. Then you will get better new growth, but its habit tends to be long branches at different angles. You will probably have to get as much of the roots as you can, if you want to take it out and it is sending up new growth.

I like the Philadelphus lewisii better, because I find the growth more compact and rounded, with a pleasing overall shape.

Here, the Hydrangea shrubs bloom in late summer, and give wonderful colour. They are looking great right now, but might bloom earlier in your zone. As the flowers fade, they can still look decorative into fall.

By: Anne

Anne — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 12:11:03 +0000

My Mockorange was on my property when we bought our house many years ago. It’s gotten way too ‘rangy’ and I want to take it out. I need something with late summer color. Any suggestions? I’m Zone 6. The mockorange seems to naturalize on woody runners. I’ve found sprouts many feet away from the main tree. How to I ‘get’ it all out? The old-fashioned way of being sure to pull out all roots?
thx

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:06:11 +0000

Jeanette, I haven’t propagated mockorange from cuttings, but they should be successful. The new growth (freshest stems) would be best. I would take 10 cm (4 or 5 inch) cuttings, strip the bottom leaves and and put them in a potting mix. A cut below a node (where the buds or leaf emerge) is best for cuttings. When I do other cuttings, I often put a bag over them to keep them moist.

It should be fun to try some cuttings, although it would take awhile for them to grow.

By: Jeannette

Jeannette — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:08:26 +0000

My daughter has the mock orange in her yard, and i’m wondering how I would be able to take some of her plant and start it in my own yard, if it is possible.

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:51:12 +0000

Brendak, the older stems on my blizzard have a bit of a peeling texture, with white striations visible. I think this is normal.

Did your mockorange already flower? Mine only flower for about 3 weeks, and then the blossoms are done. They are such pretty blooms, that I wish they would flower for longer, but this is normal for most flowering shrubs.

By: Brendak

Brendak — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:50:15 +0000

Thanks for the response. Now that I look at it more, the stems are actually peeling and the white is showing underneath the brown. It seems to still be growing though, but no flowers and still wilted leaves.

Brenda

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:06:15 +0000

BrendaK, the blooms usually last for about that long, and would normally fall off after a month.

I’m not sure what the white spots on your stems are. Are they soft like mealy bugs, or is it like a fungus of some type? I haven’t had any problems with mine. If it seems isolated to a few stems, I would cut them off and remove them from the garden.

By: Brendak

Brendak — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:55:37 +0000

Hi,
I planted a blizzard mockorange about a month ago and it bloomed and was growing well. Now in the last week, the blooms fell off and it has shriveled and the brown steps are becoming spotty white. Is it an insect or what? Help. :(

Brenda

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:19:47 +0000

Rebecca, My shrub is 4 feet tall by 5 feet wide, but it might grow a bit more still.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:55:32 +0000

Thanks for the information on the Mockorange vs the Hydrangea, I bought a Blizzard Mockorange today, and it’s just about to bloom. Could you tell me what size yours is? The tag on mine says it will be about 4×2, but the catalogue lists it as 5×5, either would work for the spot, but I’m just wondering how they grow.

Also, I was able to find a Dicentra spectabilis ‘alba’. :)