landscape maintenance landscape plants

A mystery solved

Earlier this year I walked through one of our strata title sites and found a woody shrub on the north side. A woody shrub with green leaves, no flowers, and I had to admit I had no clue what it was called. This sort of describes this shrub. It’s great when in flower, then for the rest of the year it’s a woody shrub with green leaves.

Fast forward to May 23, 2016. With bright white flowers out on the shrub it was much easier to key it out. Actually, I took the easy way out and emailed my mentor, a knowledgeable municipal gardener. Mystery solved!

It is called Philadelphus x virginalis.

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best is full-sun location

 

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late-spring early-summer flowers, fragrant scent

 

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best to remove 1/5 or 1/3 of the biggest canes at ground level to rejuvenate the shrub

The flowers come out in late spring or early summer. They produce a fragrant scent so it’s best to plant the shrub near driveways or other prominent spots where the scent can be appreciated.

On the site already mentioned, the shrubs are tall and in need of pruning. It is best to rejuvenate the shrub by removing one third or one fifth of the biggest canes. Do this immediately after flowering.

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