Philadelphus Virginal Mock Orange

Philadelphus Virginal, more commonly known as Mock Orange Virginal, is a vigorous deciduous shrub with a heady strong scent that can be used to cover walls, fences and pergolas. Double white flowers with an orange blossom scent smother this plant in June and July. The dramatic effect of fluffy, pure white blooms on dark green foliage is a real show stopper. The pure white blooms open in bunches at the top of stems and all along its length.
Mock Orange Virginal has an upright habit, scrambling up fences and walls with ease. It needs little horizontal space preferring to climb upwards to a height of three metres. If you want to attract bees and butterflies to your garden mock orange virginal is a great easy-to-grow choice. Eventual height over around 20 years 2.5-3m if left unpruned.

How Hardy Is Philadelphus Virginal?
Despite looking delicate and smelling heavenly the mock orange virginal is incredibly tough. It’s fully hardy throughout the UK withstanding winter snows and frosts. Its clinging nature and salt tolerance makes it a good plant for windy coastal conditions.

How To Use Philadelphus Virginal
Mock orange virginal suits the back of a flower border given its pure white and understated green tones. It will cover unsightly areas from spring to autumn when the foliage eventually drops with the first frosts. Place mock orange virginal near an open window or near a seating area to make the most of the heady scent. 
If you have a wild woodland garden you can’t beat a mock orange for a natural look, birds nest in its foliage and pollinators are attracted to the scent, but it can also be pruned to fit into a specific area for a smaller more formal garden. 

How To Care For Philadelphus Virginal
Mock Orange Virginal is best planted in full sun or partial shade against a climbing support such as a sturdy trellis or wire frame. It prefers fertile soil that drains well, and in these conditions it will flourish and grow vigorously.  It will cope with less fertile conditions but will grow at a slower pace. Mulch each spring and soak in hot conditions to prolong the flower show. 
Prune your mock orange virginal in late summer immediately after flowering has ceased. If you cut back one in four stems to ground level and remove any diseased, dead or crossed branches, a mock orange will spring back the following year in good health.

A Philadelphus Virginal is a must have in any flower garden because it’s is easy to care for, smells divine and makes a real statement. If you need a low maintenance but beautiful climber mock orange virginal is the one for you. 
Read our blog for more details of the various varieties of Philadelphus Mock Orange to choose from.