Philadelphus Belle Etoile - Mock Orange

Philadelphus 'Belle Étoile', obtained in the 1920s, remains one of the finest mock oranges created by the Lemoine nursery in Nancy. This variety bears large, single, white flowers adorned with a large purplish-pink blotch around a cluster of yellow stamens. Their powerful, sweet fragrance drifts through the garden in late spring. The flexible branches arch under the weight of the flowers, giving the shrub a very pleasing natural habit. This moderately sized shrub brings plenty of charm to informal hedges and small gardens.

This mock orange belongs to the Hydrangeaceae family. It is a deciduous shrub, and its leaves fall in autumn. 'Belle Étoile' was bred by the Lemoine nurseries in Nancy, attributed to Émile Lemoine and introduced to the horticultural market in 1923. It belongs to the line of mock oranges with flowers blotched with purple, obtained from several species and hybrids of the genus Philadelphus. It is found under several horticultural names, including Philadelphus × lemoinei 'Belle Étoile' and Philadelphus × purpureomaculatus 'Belle Étoile'. It is a branched shrub, fairly upright at first, spreading as the tips of the branches arch. If left unpruned, it reaches 1.50 to 2 m in height and 1.50 to 2.50 m in spread. The opposite, oval leaves, tapering to a point, are 3 to 5 cm long. Medium green, the foliage remains unobtrusive and sets off the flowers beautifully. The bark of older branches may peel slightly, especially on lightly pruned plants. In June or July, depending on the climate, the branches formed the previous year bear large, single flowers, solitary or in clusters of two or three. Their corolla, 5 to 6 cm across, consists of four slightly wavy white petals, heavily blotched with purplish pink at the base; in the centre, the yellow stamens are clearly visible. Their fragrance, powerful and sweet, reveals fruity notes sometimes compared with those of wild strawberry. Flowering is abundant and fruiting is absent or very rare. 'Belle Étoile' received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit in 1993 for its many qualities, a distinction it still holds. Hardy down to nearly -20 °C, this mock orange tolerates wind well and adapts to a wide range of soils. It flowers more generously in sun, however, in fertile, moisture-retentive soil in spring and with good drainage. Once established, it tolerates a lack of water, but prolonged drought reduces its vigour and the following year's flowering.

Plant mock orange 'Belle Étoile' near a terrace, an entrance or a path to enjoy its fragrance to the full, but also in a shrub border, an informal hedge or a large container. Its flexible habit is particularly suited to English-style gardens and cottage gardens. To accompany it, choose shrubs of a similar size with complementary flowering periods, such as Viburnum carlesii 'Aurora', Weigela 'Eva Rathke', Deutzia elegantissima 'Rosealind' or Spiraea nipponica 'Snowmound'. Their flowers follow one another from spring to summer, and they require little care.