Philadelphus x lemoinei
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- fil-a-DEL-fus le-MOI-nee-i
- Description
-
Lemoine mock orange is a hybrid cross between P. coronarius x P. microphyllus. It is a deciduous shrub with an upright, arching habit, growing 4-8 feet tall and equally wide. The white-petaled flowers are amazingly fragrant and occur in terminal racemes of 3 to 7 blooms. Each bloom is saucer-shaped and measures up to 1.5 inches in diameter. The leaves are medium to dark green, narrowly oval, and have pointed tips. This shrub belongs to the hydrangea family (Hydrangeaceae). The genus name Philadelphus is Greek and means "loving one's brother or sister." The specific epithet lemoinei honors the plant breeder, Victor Lemoine, who developed this hybrid in 1883-1884 in Nancy, France.
This shrub prefers moist, well-drained soils in sun to partial shade. It adapts to most soil types, but it is intolerant of poorly drained soils. Prune after flowering to control the shrub size. If the shrub becomes scraggly or unruly, cut it back to the ground to foster rejuvenation.
To enjoy the Lemoine mock orange's sweet fragrance, consider planting near an entrance or as a foundation planting, hedge, border, or in a woodland setting.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor for aphids, nematodes, and leaf miners. Can be susceptible to leaf spot, powdery mildew, canker, and rust. It has no serious insect or disease problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Avalanche'
Shrub grows 4-5 ft. tall, 5-10 ft. wide, with racemes of 5 to 7 fragrant, white flowers - ‘Belle Etoile’
Shrub grows 6-8 ft. tall and 6 ft. wide, with white, 4-petaled flowers with a maroon-tinged base - 'Innocence'
Grows 5-10 ft. tall and 4-10 ft. wide, with variegated foliage of gold, green, and white and white blooms - 'Manteau d'Hermine'
Grows 3-4 ft. tall, with fragrant, double flowers - 'Mrs. E. L. Robinson'
Shrub grows 5-6 ft. tall and 5 ft. wide, with fragrant, semi-double white blooms and yellow stamens - 'Silver Showers'
Shrub grows 3-4 ft. tall and 4-5 ft. wide, with a rounded habit and large, flat, scented white flowers
- 'Avalanche'
- 'Avalanche', ‘Belle Etoile’, 'Innocence', 'Manteau d'Hermine', 'Mrs. E. L. Robinson', 'Silver Showers'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Avalanche'
Shrub grows 4-5 ft. tall, 5-10 ft. wide, with racemes of 5 to 7 fragrant, white flowers - ‘Belle Etoile’
Shrub grows 6-8 ft. tall and 6 ft. wide, with white, 4-petaled flowers with a maroon-tinged base - 'Innocence'
Grows 5-10 ft. tall and 4-10 ft. wide, with variegated foliage of gold, green, and white and white blooms - 'Manteau d'Hermine'
Grows 3-4 ft. tall, with fragrant, double flowers - 'Mrs. E. L. Robinson'
Shrub grows 5-6 ft. tall and 5 ft. wide, with fragrant, semi-double white blooms and yellow stamens - 'Silver Showers'
Shrub grows 3-4 ft. tall and 4-5 ft. wide, with a rounded habit and large, flat, scented white flowers
- 'Avalanche'
- 'Avalanche', ‘Belle Etoile’, 'Innocence', 'Manteau d'Hermine', 'Mrs. E. L. Robinson', 'Silver Showers'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Philadelphus
- Family:
- Hydrangeaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
- Wildlife Value:
- The blooms attract butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Screening
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are fragrant, white-petaled, and measure 1- 1.5 inches in diameter. Three to seven blooms are borne on terminal racemes. Blooming occurs from May to June.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are medium to dark green, narrowly oval, and have pointed tips. The upper surface is smooth, and the underside is hairy. Each leaf measures up to 2 inches long. The margins are sparingly toothed.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
