Philadelphus Petite Perfume Pink

Philadelphus 'Petite Perfume Pink' is the first variety of Mock Orange with pink, rather than white, flowers. This bush has a compact habit and forms an attractive clump with slightly trailing branches, particularly beautiful in a border or in a large pot. The fine foliage, a beautiful vibrant green, is covered in a profusion of star-shaped flowers with a deep pink centre, fading to the edges. Their fragrance fills the garden for a month and a half in late spring. Adaptable to most soils, in sunny to semi-shaded positions, it is very hardy and tolerates urban environments well.

All Philadelphus are deciduous shrubs belonging to the Hydrangeaceae family (like Hydrangeas), 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 crossbred in France by Lemoine and Jacques, and then in the United States, with the fragrance of the flowers sometimes being overlooked in favour of more spectacular, double-flowering varieties...
This is not the case with 'Petite Perfume Pink', which, as its name suggests, is highly fragrant. This variety is the result of the perseverance of Alan Postill, an English breeder from Southampton, Hampshire (a county located on the south coast of England), who spent 15 years selecting a pink variety, the first in the world among Mock Oranges with white flowers.

Very compact, reaching a height and width of 1.20m (4ft) after 4 to 5 years of cultivation, this variety usually reaches a maximum height of 1.50m (5ft) at maturity. It is highly branched, producing multiple arching and even trailing stems, forming a superb flowering pot display when planted in a large decorative pot to enhance a terrace. The leaves are small and fine, measuring 3-4cm (1-2in) in length, and a beautiful vibrant green colour with a slight gloss. Between May and July, depending on the climatic zones, the bush produces a bountiful flowering display for almost six weeks, with hundreds of small, star-shaped flowers with four petals. Unlike many white varieties with broad petals, 'Petite Perfume Pink' produces elongated petals that are narrower at the base than at the tip. Their intense pink heart, almost bordering on purple, lightens towards the periphery, giving the flowers an almost bicolour appearance. A cluster of yellow stamens emerging from the centre further enhances the beauty of these 4-5cm (2in) diameter flowers that cover the plant from top to bottom. The fragrance of this bush is an additional seductive feature.

This unique Philadelphus creates a cloud of flowers in spring and looks magnificent on a terrace. When planted in the ground, it adapts to most soils, in sunny to semi-shaded positions, and tolerates urban pollution well. It is truly a beginner's plant, easy to grow and attractive in every way. On a terrace, you can combine it with other compact plants to create an inviting scene. A Dwarf 'Bing' Cherry Tree will not only offer a beautiful white flowering display but also delicious, sweet red fruits. Being self-fertile, it guarantees a good harvest. To mix styles, if you like Mediterranean plants, Euryops chrysanthemoides 'Sonnenschein' will allow you to create a beautiful flowering pot display, covered almost all year round in small golden yellow daisy-like flowers. In colder regions, you will need to cut it back before overwintering. And to add colour to your summer, show some creativity by adopting Hibiscus syriacus 'Three Sisters', a colourful combination of three Altheas with large white, blue, and mauve flowers.