Philadelphus lewisii var. gordonianus

MOCK ORANGE, LEWIS'S MOCK-ORANGE, WILD MOCK ORANGE, SYRINGA, GORDON'S MOCKORANGE
syn. P. gordonianus, P. cordatus, P. grahami, P. columbianus.
Family: Hydrangeaceae
Pronounced: fil-uh-DEL-fus   lew-ISS-ee-eye

 

Quick Jumps

Growing Guide
Rainy Side Notes

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GROWING GUIDE

Origin:
California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia, Alberta.
Plant Group:
Shrubs.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: 1-10, 14-24.
USDA zones: 5-8.
Heat zones: 8-1.
Mature size:
Height: 10 feet (3 m).
Width: 10 feet (3 m).
Flowering period:
Late spring to early summer.
Flowering attributes:
Racemes of single, white, cup-shaped flowers with yellow anthers.
Leaf attributes:
Ovate, toothed, green leaves.
Light:
Full sun to partial shade. Partial shade for places with hotter summers.
Soil:
Poor to good soils.
Pruning:
Since flowers bloom on old wood, prune immediately after flowers fade, thin out old shoots cutting them down to the base. Removing dead wood and crossed branches is usually all that's required. Light pruning does not foster more sucker growth; however, heavy pruning will encourage excessive suckering.

 

Rainy Side Notes

I find this native shrub species with its rich history a fantastic shrub for the landscape. However, not everyone is an admirer of mock orange shrubs. Michael Dirr wrote, "I have never been a fan of Philadelphis for the flowers come and go; the remainder of the garden year, a dunce sits in the corner ..." He admits his words may be too harsh and I agree. Mock orange brings a fragrant show of exquisite, fragrant, snow-white flowers to our gardens. In my old neighborhood, a neighbor had a hedge of them and when they were in full bloom, the fragrance filled my nose with a fragrance so wonderful it was a religious experience. The rest of the year, as with most flowering shrubs, it sat quietly. I might challenge Dirr to grow one and then let a beautiful clematis have its way with the shrub, perhaps one like Clematis 'Westerplatte' that offers not only red spring flowers, but also a wave of blossoms later in the summer.

Having said all that, our Pacific Northwest native P. lewisii needs nothing else but its own fountain shape or the more upright form of P. lewisii var. gordonianus with their annual show of racemes of slightly fragrant, white flowers with a fruity essence to be a wonderful addition to the garden. Dirr redeemed himself when he wrote, "Their fragrance (not all species) is heady and perhaps for those 7 to 14 days are deserving of the space in the garden."

Named the state flower of Idaho, loosely branched, this native shrub attracts bees and butterflies. Shrubs with an upright form and leaves with toothed margins are P. lewisii var. gordonianus; although, I have seen it referred to as a straight species—P. gordonianus.

Introduced to Britain by David Douglas in 1825.

Photographed in author's garden.