Philadelphus Frosty Morn - Mock Orange

Philadelphus 'Frosty Morn' is a variety of American mock orange bush that stands out for its small size, dense growth, and beautiful double and fragrant flowering. The bush offers an abundance of white flowers in June-July, gathered in clusters, well highlighted by particularly dark green foliage. 'Frosty Morn' will work wonders in a large pot on the terrace in a border or even at the front of a country hedge. 

Philadelphus are deciduous bushes native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, particularly East Asia and North America. The approximately 60 species that make up this genus were first crossed in France by Lemoine and Jacques and then in the United States, with the fragrance of the flowers sometimes being forgotten in favour of more spectacular, double-flowering varieties. Undemanding mock oranges can sometimes take a bit longer to establish. They should be regularly pruned after flowering, removing the oldest stems to remain floriferous and maintain a beautiful habit.

The mock orange 'Frosty Morn' is a horticultural hybrid obtained in 1953 by Guy D. Bush in Minnesota in the United States. It is a compact, bushy shrub with a dense habit, reaching an average of 1.25 metres (4 feet) in all directions at maturity. The growth rate for a mock orange is relatively slow, about 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8in) per year. Small flowers without stamens double for some or semi-double are formed on the same bush. They bloom in June-July for about a month. They are gathered in small clusters at the ends of the current year's branches and emit a fragrance reminiscent of orange blossom. This fragrance has earned mock oranges the occasional name of "poet's jasmine". Its leaves are a very dark green colour, slightly serrated. They are arranged oppositely on the branches and are characterised by their ovate shape, pointed tip, and lighter longitudinal veins that run through the lamina.

This variety of mock orange, adapted to all types of gardens and very easy to grow, is ideal for beginner gardeners. It can thrive in ordinary, even limestone soil. With a modest stature, very bushy and highly fragrant, 'Frosty Morn', which resembles a large gardenia when in full bloom, is ideal in a large pot on the terrace or balcony, perfect at the back of mixed borders, paired with other shrubs, or at the front of a flowering country hedge. Consider planting it near the house, terrace, or pathways to enjoy its intense fragrance. Planted in partial shade, it will brighten the garden with the whiteness of its clusters. As its flowering period is relatively short, plant it with shrubs that flower earlier or later (Deutzia, Caryopteris, lilacs, False Aralia). Let a small clematis climb its branches and grow it with the rose, 'The Fairy'; they will give your bed a wild and charming look. Its white flowering also allows for beautiful pairings with perennial plants that flower in blue.