Philadelphus x virginalis — Practical Plants

Taxonomy and growth

Family: Hydrangeaceae
Genus: Philadelphus
Life cycle: perennial
Foliage: deciduous
Woodiness: woody
Height: 3 m
Spread: 2.5 m
Fertility: Insects
Flower type: hermaphrodite
Pollinators: Insects

Uses

Material uses

The leaves are rich in saponins^[2], when crushed and mixed with water they produce a lather that is an effective cleaner, used on the body, clothes etc. You can wash your hands by merely picking a couple of leaves or a bunch of blossom, wetting your hands and then rubbing the plant material vigorously as if it was a bar of soap[K]. This soap is a very gentle cleaner that does not remove the body's natural oils, but does remove dirt. It is not very effective against oil[K]. Plants can be grown as an informal hedge or screen^[4]. The cultivar 'Burfordiensis' has been especially mentioned^[4].

Product or use: Soap

Ecology and functions

Hedge

Environment

Range: A hybrid species of garden origin, though the parentage is not known^[4].
Habitat: Not known in the wild.
Light: full sun
Shade tolerance: light shade
Water: moderate
Hardiness: Zone 5+
Soil textures: sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH: acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil: No
Drought: intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best if given 1 months cold stratification^[1]. Sow February in a light position in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. This is a hybrid species and will not breed true from seed. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm long side-shoots, July/August in a shaded frame. Plant out in spring. High percentage^[7]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, 15 - 25cm with a heel, December in a sheltered bed outdoors. Fair to good percentage^[7]. Layering in summer. Very easy.

Cultivation

Easily grown in any moderately fertile soil, succeeding in thin soils over chalk^[4]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates poor soils^[4]. Succeeds in semi-shade but prefers a position in full sun where it will flower more freely^[3]^[4]. Grows well on the woodland edge or in a glade^[4]. Hardy to about -15°c^[4]. The flowers are powerfully scented^[6]. Plants are very tolerant of pruning, one third of the stems can be cut down to the ground each year in order to promote fresh growth and heavier flowering^[5].

Philadelphus coronariusMock Orange
Philadelphus delavayi
Philadelphus lewisiiMock Orange
Philadelphus microphyllusLittleleaf Mock Orange

References

Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009
↩
Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.
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Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
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Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
↩1 ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8
Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3
↩
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
↩
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
↩1 ↩2