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Old fashioned shrub has Southern appeal
Mississippi Gardens Newspaper and Web Column - April 14, 2003

Sweet Mock Orange, a.k.a. English Dogwood, is a landscape shrub that is doing its best right now to let everyone know how beautiful it can be in Southern landscapes. This is the plant you may have noticed with abundant creamy white flowers on arching branches dancing and swaying in the slightest breeze. While seldom used in modern landscapes, this old fashioned deciduous shrub still has much appeal for Southern gardeners.

A friend gave me a small root sucker of Sweet Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius) about four years ago to plant in an open, sunny area among my foundation shrubs. It rapidly filled the spot and has given a tremendous flower show for the last two years. The plant has grown to become a multi-stemmed shrub about six feet tall and three feet wide in a relatively short time. Many arching branches enhance its upright growth habit. For two to three weeks each spring the creamy-white flowers, with a mild honeysuckle fragrance, make the Mock Orange a very welcome part of my landscape.

Sweet Mock Orange is best located in full sun although a little bit of shade is tolerated. Where full sun is available, foliage will be dense and the plant more floriferous. It is easily transplanted and establishes well in moist, well-drained soils with plenty of organic matter. It is very adaptable to a wide range of soils, even those of alkaline pH, but will not tolerate "wet feet" for very long. Many spring flowering plants require a certain amount of cold weather to yield an abundance of flowers. Sweet Mock Orange is a consistent bloomer regardless of the temperatures.

Managing Sweet Mock Orange consists of an occasional pruning that involves the removal of old stems. This thinning process will help keep the plant fresh and vigorous. Mock Orange will develop ex-foliating or peeling bark much like crepe myrtle. This is a natural phenomenon and should be appreciated rather than mistaken for a problem. In addition to its other desirable characteristics, Mock Orange is nearly pest free! If it does come under insect or disease attack it is usually not serious.

The Sweet Mock Orange is known for being an old fashioned favorite that will last in your garden or landscape for many years. It can be used as a specimen plant or plant several for a fast-growing flowering screen that may reach 12 feet in height. There are a few cultivars available including 'Polar Star' that produces large, two inch semi-double flowers and 'Duplex', which is a dwarf selection. Many grandmothers' gardens include a specimen or two of Sweet Mock Orange. If you can't find any at the local garden center I am sure grandma will pass some along to you.

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These archived columns were written by Kerry Johnson, a hobby gardener, former weekly newspaper columnist and an Area Extension Horticulture Agent for 11 coastal counties in Mississippi.