Mexican Orange Blossom Plants

Mexican Orange Blossom | Choisya ternata hedging

Choisya ternata is a hardy, aromatic shrub with dense, swift growth. By itself, it naturally forms an attractive mound and it will happily grow into a decent hedge. The white flowers begin to emerge in mid-Spring and their honeyed orange aroma is a real joy. The evergreen leaves are bright and glossy - they also give off a pleasant, basil like smell when you clip them. Used as a hedge, Choisya ternata's fragrance will infuse a small garden and it is ideal to plant around a seated area. They are resistant to most British plant diseases and pests, including Honey Fungus. They can handle a bit of shade, as long as the soil is rich and well drained.

Once Mexican Orange Blossoms are settled in and flowering away, they can be coaxed into blooming again towards the end of the Summer. Deadhead flowers as soon as they drop their petals and select a third to a half of the flowering stems to cut back. Trim them by approximately 25cm/11 inches once the flowers have faded. Your local bees (the Blue Orchard bee in particular) will thank you for increasing the amount of autumn flowers. This is all the pruning care your plants need, unless they have been damaged by harsh frosts. In this unlikely event, you can prune them as hard as you like to get rid of damaged branches - do this anytime in Spring. A light trim to keep your Choisya ternata hedge in shape can be carried out at the end of June.

Your Mexican Orange Blossom will arrive in pots and can be planted at any time of year, as long as you can water them if it doesn't rain. Dig a hole as deep as the container and twice the width, then firm the plant in so that it is at the same level in the ground as it was in the pot. If you think the soil is a bit poor, mix in a handful of bone meal and some well rotted compost before replacing it. Water well and wait for the scent! In subsequent years, lightly dust the ground around the plants with bone meal and seal it in with mulch - don't touch the stem with either. You will only need 2 plants per metre if you are making a hedge, as they are naturally bushy and like a bit of room.

Introduced to the UK in 1826.