Comments on: Philadelphus for Pretty White Blooms

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 17:08:04 +0000

Tom, I’ve had great success with my Philadelphus lewisii ‘Blizzard’(a type of Lewis mockorange), which is totally covered in masses of blooms every year. I do not have to pamper it at all, and it cheerfully puts out a fantastic show.

However, my Philadelphus virginalis (common mockorange) is not nearly as reliable. It does perform better when I cut it back a bit. If you were still inclined to try a rejuvenate it, you could try cutting 1/3 of the older stems right back to the ground each year for the next three years to get new growth.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:23:47 +0000

I planted some kind of Mock Orange around 4-5 years ago. It has NEVER flowered. I don’t know what kind of Mock Orange it is, but I got at the Local Garden center here in North Dallas.

I am about to yank it out of the ground as a “waste-of-money plant”.

Can anyone convince me otherwise? Or.. tender advise as to what I may be doing wrong. It sets in the northeast corner of my house, gets morning sun. I pruned it occasionally, when it get irritating to pass by when I mow. The trunk of the biggest stem coming out of the ground is almost 1 inch diameter.

It’s a little early here to expect flowers on it yet (early April). But it has been a no-go for several years.

Without fruitful advise… this “flowering” shrub is in the next take out bin…

Thanks for any thoughts!

Tom

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:34:04 +0000

Hi# 13, I haven’t had to prune my blizzard mockorange yet, as it is relatively young, has a nice shape and is blooming well. I would take out dead, damaged or diseased branches any time I saw them, by cutting them back to where they branch from.

For more regular pruning, I would prune it just after the flowers fade. In my garden that’s around mid to the end of July, but might be earlier where you are. If there were any awkward branches that stick out unusually in the way, I would prune those back to where they branch from. If the shrub is older, crowded or tangled, you can prune a few of the oldest branches (thicker and more established) right back to their base.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:17:51 +0000

Could someone please tell me how to prune my blizzard mockorange? First time I’ve had it and can’t seem to find advice. All comments welcome – thank you in advance! Sheila

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:03:55 +0000

Pomona, my P. virginalis (common mockorange) has very few buds on it, which are just about to open. It hasn’t had any flowers up to now, so no chance to make mockorange fruit.

Whereas the Blizzard mockorange is a real focal point right now in the garden with all of its petals. It has bloomed every year.

Edmonton is one of the few places that still has a healthy elm population. Some of the older neighbourhoods still have elm lined streets.

By: Pomona Belvedere

Pomona Belvedere — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:37:00 +0000

Your ‘Blizzard’ mock orange does seem much more floriferous than the taller mockoranges I remember as a child. If I recall, those mock oranges grew under on an elm-shaded avenue (back when there were elms); I don’t know how much shade contributed to the scanty flowering, but they were tall healthy plants.

Does Blizzard make mock orange fruit? I remember playing with them as a kid, they looked like baseballs made of green squiggly brains. Rather heavy and hard, so if you have the tall kind, don’t plant them in a place you’d sit under.

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 04:17:01 +0000

Swimray, as I was working in the garden today, I kept walking by this Philadelphus, and I really enjoyed the fragrance, and pretty blooms.

Shady Gardener, I know they can take part shade, but I don’t know if other types of mockorange take as much shade as this one. I’ve been very pleased with how well Blizzard has accepted the conditions and flowered so prolifically.

By: Shady Gardener

Shady Gardener — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:17:29 +0000

Northern Shade, I’ve never had a mock orange. They’re very pretty, aren’t they? I didn’t know these would tolerate so much shade. I’m going to have to look into them. Thanks! :-)

By: Swimray

Swimray — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:27:00 +0000

I think you have just solved the questions of what else to plant in my new side yard garden.

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:09:53 +0000

Joanne, I noticed the fragrance from the Philadelphus much more today, and the scent seemed to be carrying farther. It might be because it’s been raining off and on, or perhaps more flowers are fully open. It was very sweet.