Leaf
Salicyna, Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mock orange
Philadelphus coronarius L.
Also known as: Sweet mock orange
Family: Hydrangeaceae
2 to 3 m tall
Widely planted in hedges and borders, sometimes self-sown
Flowering: May – June
Full sun
Part shade
Hardy to -15°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Its sweet scent, reminiscent of orange blossom, carries a long way in May–June.
🍃 Leaves
Opposite, ovate, finely toothed
🌸 Flowers
White, four petals, powerful scent evoking orange blossom
🍎 Fruits
Small dry capsules
🪵 Bark
Brown, peeling in strips on old shoots
🗺️ Distribution
South-eastern Europe, Asia Minor; widely grown in France as an ornamental shrub.
🐝 Value for pollinators
Very fragrant white flowering (orange-blossom scent) in spring, nectar-rich, visited by bees.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Planted in borders or as a specimen for its powerful scent, often wrongly called 'jasmine'.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No known toxicity.
🌿 Other Hydrangeaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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