Many varieties have sweetly scented flowers that attract pollinators.
The blooms are excellent cut flowers that fill a house with their signature scent.
However, its green foliage is an attractive backdrop for other flowers until winter arrives.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Where to Plant Mock Orange
Most mock orange shrubs are cold-hardy inUSDA Zones 4-8.
They need a full-sun location for the best flower production.
Although they tolerate partial shade, blooming is reduced.
Credit: Bill Stites
Like many garden plants, they grow best in moist, well-draining soil.
Dig a hole in a full-sun location with well-draining soil.
The hole must be as deep as the rootball and twice as wide.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Loosen the soil in the hole and dig in some compost.
Position the plant at the same depth it was growing in its container.
Backfill the hole, pressing down on the soil to remove air pockets.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Most mock orange shrubs are large, so space them 6 to 8 feet apart.
Mock Orange Care Tips
Mock orange shrubs dont require much special care.
Light
Plant mock oranges in full sunfor the most impressive blooms and fragrance.
Credit: Rich Pomerantz
Soil and Water
Plant inwell-drained soil, preferably amended with organic matter.
They prefer evenly moist soil, especially during the summer.
They do not tolerate wet or poorly drained soil.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Temperature and Humidity
Mock orange shrubs handle any humidity they encounter without difficulty.
They are winter hardy in Zones 3-8 and dont require any special protection from the cold.
In areas with extremely hot summers, they benefit from a little afternoon shade.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
For the amount to use, follow product label directions.
Since mock orange blooms on old wood,pruningshould be done immediately after the plant flowers.
Pruning encourages branching, too.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
As plants age, some of the mature woody stems can become less productive and bare.
These can be cut back to the base to encourage new growth.
Select a large container with drainage holes.
Locate it in an area where it receives at least six hours of sun daily.
When the shrub needs repotting, use fresh potting soil.
An early app of horticultural oil, such asneem oil, will limit the damage.
Propagation by Cuttings
Make cuttings from new growth in spring right after the shrub bloom ends.
Propagation with Seeds
Seeds must becold-stratifiedbefore they can germinate.
Collect the seeds and store them in a container left outside during the winter to meet this requirement.
you might also refrigerate the seeds in peat eight weeks before planting.
Fill small pots withperlite or vermiculiteand sow two seeds in each one, barely covering them with planting medium.
Keep them moist and in a warm place, and the seeds will germinate in about two weeks.
It takes about two months of growing to have seedlings large enough to transplant to larger containers.
The entire process takes six to 12 months.
Dig up the sucker and replant it immediately.
It bears lots of double white, fragrant flowers in spring.
It grows 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide.
Rabbits cause more damage than deer because they bite off and eat the tender tips of branches in spring.
Protect the roots of the shrub by watering it heavily right before the first frost of winter.
If your weather is particularly harsh, cover the shrub with a sheet on the coldest nights.
Potted shrubs should be moved to an unheated shed or garage during the winter.
When grown in optimal conditions, mock orange shrubs live 10 to 15 years.
Mock orange shrubs bloom from late spring to early summer.
Some may bloom sparingly until late summer.
