PlantFiles: Sweet Mock Orange, English Dogwood
Philadelphus coronarius

I discovered this shrub, which spans a good 30 feet by 30 feet, growing on land I purchased to live on located in the foothill applalachian region (southcentral eastern area) of Ohio. The land was raw and we literally had to cut our way through thick brush, trees and thousands of vines (Tarzan swings..lol) in order to get into the land and make a spot for the cabin we are now living in.
Ironically, once we started clearing, and using a Bobcat for our cabin site, we dug up many hand cut foundation stones! Then, as we progressed by hand pulling vegetation, we found two old wells. Inside they are perfectly formed circles of layered stone and have huge hand cut stone covers with two holes drilled into the top. Obviously, this site was once occupied a long, long time ago and someone planted this fine shrub that has lived on as if to tell part of a story of the life of those who once lived here before me.
Anyway, this shrub started blooming profusely soon after we moved in our 'un'finished cabin. The fragrance is intoxicating and can be smelled all over our farm!
It took a little research but I found out that it is a Mock Orange. I also read somewhere that it is the flower used in marriage ceremonies in Pioneer days.....and rightly so!!!
My "shrub" is 8 foot tall and spreads as mentioned, about 30x30feet. It's toothed green leaves have lightly grooved veings and their is a slight gloss to the leaves with are opposites on the stems. The underside is a lighter green with just a little feel of prickly fur. The stems are woody brown but the stems holding the flowers are green. The stems look round but I can feel a slight edge to them.
The flowers are white with four petals. The petals are lightly toothed. They look like a cup and then open wide and almost flat. There are bright orangeish yellow stamens in the center of the flower. There are several flowers (bunched) on the end of each stem.
I would compare the fragrance strength to that of Carolina Jasmine. It is also as strong and sweet as the Magnolia and Wisteria but the difference is how well the fragrance seems to drift about the area here. A wonderful northern flowering shrub and I'm so happy to have it here on my farm, not far from my cabin window!

I just purchased this beautiful plant to add to my "cottage" garden. Unfortunately, I was under the impression it was ok in the full afternoon sun. After days of drooping and some research I have decided to move it to an area that gets morning sun. I hope it will "perk" up. The smell is faint and when in full bloom is a beautiful addition to the garden.

This grows wild all over my yard. In fact we have a 6 foot fence that we put up & my backyard neighbor has a fence as well, because of property lines we put our fence up with a 2 foot space between both fences. After cutting the shrubs down to the ground they have grown up & over the fence & cascade in to our yard with wonderful white blooms, they lighten up the back yard here in Levittown NY Long Island. They can become invasive but the fence is keeping them in check. We also have one that grows against the house & reaches 8 feet tall.

Planted two of these about 15 years ago, they still bloom delightfully every year. They like living as understories - partly shady. Very nice white blossoms, although yes, in winter they are deciduous and stalky, but then so are alot of my other trees - they just blend in. I would say it's a more "northern" shrub, not for some who prefer total tropical/everygreen yards. I like it because the real Dogwood trees have trouble growing here - too warm for them. Mine seem to thrive on neglect, although I will water them during a drought.

planted in mostly shade area 5 years ago and maybe 1 flower a year. moved to 50/50 sun area-midday only of full sun- bloomed like crazy.

We had a Mock Orange at our house in Lincoln NE and the fragrance would knock you over. When we moved to Omaha we ran out and bought one to plant. It didn't bloom for about 3 years .. and then finally began to bloom but had little or no fragrance. The shrub is now about 15 years old, blooms profusely every year and has a mild fragrance.
In doing research I discovered that this plant in its original form was quite fragrant. But it has adapted and changed, and many of the new (improved????) species that are available now, are not very fragrant. We really enjoy it and it makes great cuttings.

These shrubs vary in fragrance. I have one that has no smell and another that smells wonderful. They are nice 'natural' looking shrubs that don't overpower the landscape. One plus...they are not invasive.

I think I got a dud! Mine has no scent at all.
Its still very pretty so I can't say its a negtive, but I really do wish it was fragrant!! A word to the wise, sniff before you buy.

My mother-in-law has a mock orange that blooms beautifully. It's in Slinger, WI - zone 5a - planted where it's sheltered from north and west winds but with sun most of the day.

I have a large English Dogwood which is about 10 feet tall not including what I like to call it's feelers. The bush is very dense with 5 or 6 long curving branches (feelers) that extend about 3-4 feet above the rest of the bush. When in full bloom the bush is nearly completely white with clusters of flower even appearing at the end of it's feelers. My bush spreads by sending out underground runners that can sprout as much as 4 feet away from the main plant. The flower have four pure white petals, a bright yellow center, and no fragrance. The bush is planted in full sun and has no problem dealing with the summer heat of central Florida.

I have been growing this shrub for five years in my garden in the Catskills (zone 5A). It is growing vigorously despite severe recent winters, and now has lots of stems and is eight feet tall. However, it has never bloomed--perhaps because of late frosts? Wet feet? (my soil is heavy clay, and remains wet until July). I have been very disappointed because it was magnificent and extremely fragrant in my mother's Connecticut garden (zone 5b) for many years.

The Mock Orange shrub is a wonderful plant. My dear aunt had one when I was a child and lived in Spain. The scent from this shrub together with madonna lilies which bloom at the same time is intoxicating. When I came to this country 43 years ago I looked for one to have in my yard and it took a long time before I found it, but I have had it for 30 years now and it is still going strong. I have also propagated it by cuttings and have four in total plus I have given some away. It is in beautiful bloom now here in Texas. The blooms last about three weeks and the rest of the year it is very inconspicous but worth wating for the big show in Spring.

This plant will grow in the Tampa Florida and flowers in April and May. It seems to prefer to send up multiple shoots from the ground rather than grow tall. Mine stays at around 3 to 4 feet but gets a little wider each year. It does not like the hot Florida sun and by July, it is in full decline. It looks rugged until February when it begins to leaf out anew. The flowers are white, four petaled and not particularly fragrant. It is generally sold under the name English Dogwood.

I had this along a fence at my home in St. Augustine, Florida. In spring people would stop their cars to look at it. When it's blooming it's great, when it's not blooming it's pretty, in the winter it looks pretty rugged, but can be cut way back.

Roots easily from a pruned stick.

A deciduous, upright shrub from Southern Europe.

Has ovate, mid green, toothed leaves. Bears heavily scented, cup shaped, white flowers.

Flowers May-July

Likes a well drained, fertile soil in full sun or partial shade. Not keen on too much winter wet.

Prune back flowered shoots to young shoots and strong buds after flowering.

Attracts blackfly aphids by the hundreds which can damage young shoots.