Strong fragrance, low maintenance: Mock Orange
- Binomial Name: Philadelphus lewisii
- Soil Type: Drought-tolerant
- Sunlight: Full to partial sun
- Plant Type: Small shrub
- Form: Rounded
- Foliage: Deciduous
- Fruit/Flower: Yes — produces both
The scientific name, Philadelphus lewisii, honors Pacific Northwest explorer Meriwether Lewis, who collected the plant in 1806. Indigenous communities used the shrub’s hard wood for tools and furniture, and its leaves and bark as a natural soap when mixed with water.
Mock Orange gets its common name from its sweet, citrus-like fragrance, reminiscent of oranges with a hint of pineapple. Long stems hold clusters of four-petaled white flowers with bright yellow stamens. This rounded shrub grows 1.5 to 3 meters tall, and when in full bloom, appears covered in blossoms. The light green, opposite leaves have serrated edges and a rough texture. Its fruit is a small, hard, winged capsule containing brown seeds.
With its strong fragrance, showy flowers, and tolerance of poor soils and drought, Mock Orange is an excellent low-maintenance choice for many gardens and landscapes. Its blossoms attract wildlife such as butterflies; however, because they also attract bees, it is best to plant Mock Orange away from doorways and high-traffic areas.
This native plant has been brought to you by the City of Beaverton’s Landscape & Urban Forestry Dept.
