Choisya Aztec Gold - Mexican Orange Blossom

The Choisya 'Aztec Gold' is a recent variety of Mexican Orange, distinguished by its finely cut foliage that retains beautiful golden tones in all seasons and in all exposures. Elegant and luminous, it also offers white and delicately fragrant flowers in spring, often recurring at the end of summer, surrounded by the scent of orange blossom. The scent of the flowers, as well as the foliage when crushed, strongly resembles that of citrus trees, as this plant belongs to the same botanical family. Choisya are excellent bushes for our gardens, robust, resistant to drought, easy to grow in any well-drained soil and in all exposures in not-too-cold climates. This one, not very tall, beautifully structural, is a real treasure for the garden or terrace.                                                                 

The Choisya 'Aztec Gold' is a descendant of the pretty variety 'Aztec Pearl', resulting from the cross-breeding between a Choisya ternata and a C. dumosa var. arizonica. It is an English horticultural creation dating from 2012, introduced by Hillier Nurseries. Its first parent, commonly called Mexican Orange, is widespread in the mountains of Mexico, but also in the southwest of the United States, from Arizona to Texas via New Mexico. The second is native to western North America, it is more compact, has feathery foliage, and is less hardy. All these plants belong to the citrus tree family. These bushes, whose foliage persists all year round, are accustomed to dry and hot climates.

'Aztec Gold' ('Hilgold)' is a small bush with growth of 1.20m (3.3ft) in all directions, on average at maturity. Its habit is bushy, rather rounded, and flexible. It bears opposite leaves, divided into 3 to 7 very narrow leaflets, with a slightly greenish yellow base, shiny, 6cm (2.4in) long and barely 1cm (0.4in) wide. They retain this pretty colour even in the shade and do not burn in the sun. When crushed, they emit a fresh, citrusy and spicy smell, reminiscent of both citrus leaf and green pepper. Flowering occurs in May-June, more or less early depending on the climate, and often again in the second part of summer. At the tips of the branches, clusters of slightly pinkish flower buds appear. They open into star-shaped flowers with 5 petals, 3 to 4cm (1.6in) in diameter. The delicately scented flowers are frequently visited by pollinating insects.

The Choisya 'Aztec Gold', particularly suitable for Mediterranean climates, adapts well north of the Loire in any light, loose, well-drained soil and in a warm, sunny location protected from cold winds. It can be planted near an entrance or a passage to enjoy its delicate fragrance as often as possible. It is also perfect on the terrace or balcony, planted in a large pot, regularly fertilized and watered. It can also be used in a small informal hedge, along with Escallonia, old roses, Caryopteris (Heavenly Blue, Sterling Silver), abelias (chinensis, grandiflora) or dwarf buddleias for example. Despite its exotic appearance and fragrance, it is capable, once established, of withstanding brief frosts of around -15°C (5°F), as well as long dry periods in summer.