Download Philadelphus lewisii - Woodinville Water District

Philadelphus lewisii
(fil-uh-DEL-fus lew-ISS-ee-eye)
Wild Mockorange
Deciduous Shrub
5-10’high and wide
Low Water
Full Sun to Part Shade
USDA Zones 4 to 9
Wild mockorange is a large multi-stemmed shrub with broadly arching branches. The dark green
oval leaves can be either smooth-edged or toothed. The early summer flowers are white and
sweetly fragrant, with 4 to 5 petals each and arranged in clusters of 3 or more. The bloom time
can extend for over two months. The wild mockorange is a Washington state native plant and
grows in thickets as an understory plant in the wild.
It will thrive in most any garden soil, but needs plenty of water its first two years in order to
become well established. Height and spread are determined by growing conditions. The plant
will be smaller in a hot and dry location.
It should be pruned after flowering each year in order to remove some of the oldest stems. It will
bloom on the remaining branches the next flowering season.
Plant the wild mockorange as a screen in the back of the border, or let it stand alone as a focal
point. Its twiggy habit will attract birds, moths, hummingbirds, and butterflies.
Photos courtesy of Oregon State University
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/phle1.htm
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/phle5.htm
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/phle9.htm