Philadelphus Dainty Lady - Mock Orange

The Philadelphus 'Dainty Lady' is a recent variety of hybrid Mock Orange, perfect for small gardens! The bush almost disappears in June under a profusion of delicate white single flowers, enhanced by a small purple calyx. Gathered in intensely fragrant clusters, they gracefully arch the reddish branches of this naturally upright poet's jasmine. Like all mock oranges, 'Dainty Lady' is a deciduous, robust, hardy shrub that is very easy to grow in ordinary soil, in full sun or partial shade. Plant it in a rustic flower bed or in a small free hedge, along a path, under a window or even in a large container on the terrace!

All Philadelphus species are deciduous shrubs 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 cross-bred in France by Lemoine and Jacques, then in the United States, with the fragrance of the flowers sometimes being forgotten in favor of more spectacular, double-flowered varieties... Not demanding, mock oranges can sometimes take a while to establish. They should be regularly pruned after flowering, removing the oldest stems, so that they maintain a beautiful habit and remain floriferous.

The 'Dainty Lady' mock orange (PBR) is a horticultural hybrid obtained in England by Peter Moore in 2012. It is a cross between P. microphyllus (which gave it its compact size) and P. delavayi var. calvescens (from which it inherited its purple calyx). 'Dainty Lady' forms a bushy shrub, with an upright and narrow habit, reaching an average height of 1.20 m (4ft) with a spread of 70 cm at maturity (the spread of the flowering plant will be larger). The flowers are single, pure white, adorned with a purple-green calyx and yellow stamens, and measure about 5.5 cm (2in) in width. They bloom in June for about a month. They are rarely solitary, most often gathered in small clusters of 2 to 5 charming flowers. They are particularly numerous and deliver a powerful fragrance reminiscent of orange blossom, which certainly explains why it is also called the "poet's jasmine". Its small, narrow, deciduous leaves are slightly dentate and about 4.5 cm (2in) long. They are glaucous green, sometimes tinged with purple when they are at the ends of the current year's branches. They are entire, arranged in an opposite manner on the branches and characterized by their narrow ovate shape and pointed apex. In this variety, the bare branches have a beautiful reddish mahogany color in winter.


This mock orange, adapted to all types of gardens and very easy to grow, is ideal for beginner gardeners. It enjoys being planted in a sunny or semi-shady position and is content with ordinary, even chalky soil. With a modest stature, this "delicate lady" will be perfect in the background of mixed borders, in association with other shrubs, in the foreground of a flowering rustic hedge, or even grown in a container on the terrace or balcony. Plant this philadelphus near the house, terrace or paths 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 relatively short, consider associating it with shrubs that flower earlier or later (Deutzia, Buddleia, Forsythia, Caryopteris, lilacs, Fatsia...). Let a small clematis climb in its branches, surround it with a The Fairy rose (pink, red or white), they will give a wild and charming look to your composition. Its white flowering also allows for beautiful associations with perennial plants that have blue (or white, for the beauty of a virgin garden) flowers.