About Choisya ternate: Mexican Orange Blossom, Mexican Mock Orange
The Choisya ternate, also referred to as Mexican orange blossom or Mexican mock orange, is a flowering, evergreen shrub native to Mexico and the southwest USA. This hardy plant blooms in spring and often again in mid-autumn. The cluster of white flowers are fragrant with a sweet orange scent – even the foliage releases a fragrance when crushed. The Choisya shrub thrives in the Pacific Northwest coast. Although choisya is, for the most part, frost resistant, it can suffer from intense or prolonged cold weather. Below are tips on how to grow and when to prune a choisya shrub.
The choisya is valued for its year-round interest of evergreen golden or green foliage. But also for its adaptability and low maintenance. It has an attractive dome or rounded habit that can be easily pruned and fairly drought tolerant once established. The choisya just about fits in with most garden designs, either as a specimen plant, backdrop in a mixed border or grouped for hedging. It is also suitable for patio planters. Popular choisya cultivars include the ‘Aztec Pearl’, which has a neat, rounded form and flowers for more than a month. The ‘Aztec Pearl’ is hardy to -15C (5F). Another favourite is the ‘Sundance’ with bright golden yellow leaves – though less hardy and susceptible to frost damage.
Choisya (Mexican Orange Blossom) At A Glance
Type: Evergreen
Location: Full Sun / Partial Shade
Flowers: Spring (possibly again in mid to late Autumn)
When To Prune: After Flowering (Late Spring)
Size: without pruning up 1.8 metres (6 ft)
Zones: 7, 8, 9, 10 (hardiness to temperatures as low as -12C (10F)
Where To Plant And How To Grow Choisya (Mexican Orange Blossom)
Plant in spring or autumn in fertile, well-drained soil. Water regularly, especially the first year.
It tolerates partial shade, but those that receive full sun have greater flower yield. Ideally an east-facing sunny location with afternoon shade from hot summer sun will protect it from being scorched. If the location is in the path of bitterly cold winds during winter, it may need some burlap protection, or reconsider planting it in a more sheltered spot.
The choisya benefits from a balanced fertilizer applied in early spring. And mulch added in spring helps to conserve moisture.
When And How To Prune Choisya (Mexican Orange Blossom)
The choisya shrub can grow upwards to 1.8 metres (6 feet) and sometimes a little more, but don’t let this scare you. Choisyas tolerate pruning from a light trim to a hard prune.
Pruning choisya annually in spring is beneficial for new growth and to keep an attractive shape. Hard pruning to restore the form of a neglected shrub or contain the shrub’s size should be done after the last hard frost. And always remove any dead or damaged stems caused during winter.
Young plants should be pruned to one-third in the spring. This encourages new shoots to grow from base to form a bushy and denser habit as it grows.
Mature choisya shrubs should be pruned after flowering to keep a uniformed rounded form. If your plants develop bare or straggly stems, cut back all the main stems back to about 20-25 cm (8-10 inches) from the ground in the spring once the risk of frost is gone.
Trim off the faded flowers in late spring by cutting just below the flowerheads. This can encourage a second batch of blooms in autumn.
Tools Needed For Pruning Choisya (Mexican Orange Blossom)
Below is the list of essential tools needed to prune a Mexican orange blossom shrub. You will likely only need to have a good quality sharp pruner to maintain the shape of Mexican orange blossom. With mature shrubs, the older wood that needs to be cut from the base may be thick and a lopper will be needed.
- Pruners
- Long-handled loppers
- Garden gloves
RELATED TOPIC: Buyer’s Guide How To Choose Garden Hand Pruners (Secateurs)
Pests And Diseases That Affect Choisya (Mexican Orange Blossom)
Choisya shrubs are generally trouble-free and rabbit and deer resistant.
Though fawns that pass through our garden may try the young leaves from one particular Mexican orange shrub. We guess it is not that tasty after all as they generally leave it after that first nibble. We have been tempted to move it, but it is generally a short-lived issue – maybe we can put it down a ‘teachable’ moment for fawns!
