Philadelphus virginalis Albâtre - Mock Orange

Philadelphus 'Albâtre' is an old variety of bush with a rather late, cream-white and semi-double flowering, whose flowers gathered in clusters exhale a beautiful scent reminiscent of orange blossom. This deciduous bush with an open habit has dark green foliage that serves as a backdrop for its beautiful and fragrant flowering. 'Albâtre' proves to be robust, hardy, and very easy to grow in ordinary soil, in full sun or partial shade. Plant your mock oranges in the second or third row of your shrub beds or as a free hedge, because their peak period, although unforgettable, is not very long!

All Philadelphus are deciduous shrubs native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, especially East Asia and North America. The approximately 60 species that make up this genus have been crossbred with each other, first in France by Lemoine and Jacques, and then in the United States, with the scent of the flowers sometimes being forgotten along the way in favour of more spectacular, double blooms... Not demanding, mock oranges can sometimes take a little while to establish themselves. They should be regularly pruned after flowering, removing the oldest stems, so that they maintain a beautiful habit and remain floriferous.

The mock orange 'Albâtre' is a complex horticultural hybrid resulting from the Philadelphus (x) virginalis, itself probably resulting from a crossbreeding.
'Albâtre' is a bushy shrub with an open habit reaching an average height of 2m (6ft 7in) with a diameter of 1.50m at maturity, with rapid growth. Its small almost single or semi-double flowers, 2.5cm (1in) in size, bloom in June-July. They are gathered in light clusters of 5 to 9 charming flowers. They are numerous and emit a very distinct scent that perfumes the garden with the aroma of orange blossom, which certainly explains why it is also called the “poet's jasmine”. Its deciduous leaves are dark green, slightly toothed, and 4 to 10cm (1.6 to 3.9in) long. They are characterized by their oval shape, pointed tip, and lighter longitudinal veins that run through the lamina.

Mock orange is adapted to all types of gardens and very easy to grow, and is ideal for beginner gardeners. It enjoys being planted in sunny or semi-shaded locations and is content with ordinary soil, even limestone. It will be perfect in the background of mixed borders, in association with other shrubs, in a flowering country hedge, or even grown in a container. Consider planting it near the house, terrace, or pathways to fully enjoy its intense fragrance. Planted in partial shade, it will illuminate the garden with the whiteness of its flowers. Since its flowering period is rather short, consider associating it with shrubs that have an earlier or later flowering period (Deutzia, Buddleia, Forsythia, Caryopteris, lilac, Fatsia…) Allow a clematis or a climbing rose with flexible branches to climb in its slightly stiff branches, they will give a wild and charming look to your mock orange. Its white flowering also allows for beautiful associations with perennial plants with blue (or white, for the beauty of a virginal garden) flowering.