Philadelphus Bouquet Blanc - Mock Orange

Philadelphus 'Bouquet Blanc' is a variety of Philadelphus that boasts an abundant spring flowering. The small semi-double or double flowers are grouped in slightly scented clusters, pure white in colour. Like all Philadelphus, 'White Bouquet' is a robust deciduous shrub, hardy and very easy to grow in ordinary soil, in full sun or partial shade. Plant it in a country-style flower bed or in a small free hedge, along a pathway or under a window.

Philadelphus are all deciduous shrubs native to temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, particularly from the Far East and North America. They belong to the Hydrangeaceae family, along with Hydrangeas and Deutzias. The approximately 60 species that make up this genus were first crossed in France by Lemoine and Jacques, and then in the United States. The original fragrance of the flowers has sometimes been forgotten along the way in favour of more spectacular, double-flowering varieties. Not demanding, Philadelphus can sometimes take a little while to establish themselves. They should be regularly pruned after flowering, removing the oldest stems, in order to maintain a beautiful habit and ensure abundant flowering.

The 'White Bouquet' Philadelphus is a variety with immaculate white flowering. The small 2 or 3 cm (0.8 or 1.2 in) diameter flowers are semi-double or double, with a subtle fragrance. They appear in large quantities in May-June or June-July depending on the region and are the main attraction of this Philadelphus. These flowers are enhanced by the deciduous foliage, which is a fairly dark green. The oval-shaped leaves, about 6 cm (2.4 in) long, have a slightly toothed edge.
This bush forms a dense plant mass, about 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall and 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) wide, ideal for creating a country-style hedge. It grows in practically any soil, whether acidic, neutral, or alkaline, as long as it is not too dry or too wet, and is well drained. Hardy down to -15 °C (5 °F), it withstands wind and atmospheric pollution well. It is the perfect plant for beginners, very easy to succeed in the garden.

This Philadelphus 'White Bouquet' has the perfect dimensions and natural habit to blend into a country-style hedge, alongside other naturally shaped shrubs, such as the Amelanchier spicata, with its earlier white flowering and decorative fruits, the Abelia grandiflora with its semi-evergreen foliage, the Symphoricarpos with its decorative pinkish-purple berries, the Kolkwitzia amabilis, or beauty bush, and many others. You can enhance this wild aspect by training a clematis with pink, violet, or red flowers to climb in its branches, creating a beautiful colour combination with the pure white of the Philadelphus.

This Philadelphus will also be at home in a flower bed alongside plants as easy to grow as itself, spreading out the flowering seasons, such as Spiraea billardii with its large spikes of pink flowers, Buddleias with their green or grey foliage and flowers of various colours, and yellow Forsythias for the start of the season.