How to Grow Choisya Ternata Sundance - Plant Care & Tips

By NorwichGardener Team   /   2025

Choisya ternata sundance is a beautiful, evergreen shrub that produces an abundance of fragrant, white flowers in the spring and fall. This tough, heat and drought tolerant plant is perfect for use as a specimen or in mass plantings in the landscape.

How to Grow Choisya Ternata Sundance - Plant Care & Tips

Also called

  • Mexican orange
  • Round-leaved orange
  • Sweet-scented orange
  • White-flowered orange
  • Winter Daphne

Basic info

  • Choisya ternata, commonly known as Mexican orange, is a fast-growing evergreen shrub that is native to southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.
  • It is characterized by its glossy, aromatic leaves and its clusters of white, fragrant flowers.
  • Mexican orange is a popular landscaping plant and is often used as a hedge or foundation planting.
  • It can grow to 6-8 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide.
  • Mexican orange is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions and can even grow in poor, sandy soils.
  • It is drought tolerant once established, but does best with regular watering.
  • Mexican orange is not particular about fertilizer, but benefits from an annual application of compost or other organic matter.
  • Pruning is not necessary, but can be done to shape the plant or control its size.
  • Mexican orange is susceptible to a number of pests and diseases, including scale, mealybugs, aphids, and root rot.
  • It is also attractive to deer and rabbits.

Related plant:
Choisya Ternata Aztec Pearl

Growing Steps

  1. For choisya ternata sundance, first step is to choose a location that receives full sun to partial sun for best growth and flowering.
  2. Clear the selected location of all grass and weeds.
  3. Dig a hole twice the width and depth of the plant’s root ball.
  4. Place the plant in the hole and backfill with soil, tamping down lightly as you go.
  5. Water the plant deeply and regularly for the first growing season to help it establish its root system.
  6. Fertilize choisya ternata sundance once per month with a balanced fertilizer during the first growing season.
  7. Prune back the plant by one-third in late winter or early spring to encourage new growth.
  8. Deadhead spent flowers throughout the growing season to promote continued blooming.
  9. Apply a thin layer of mulch around the base of the plant in late spring to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
  10. Winterize choisya ternata sundance by applying a heavy layer of mulch around the base of the plant in late fall.

Related plant:
Choisya White Dazzler

The Soil

About soil condition, the Sundance is pretty flexible. It grows well in average to poor soil that is well-drained. In fact, it will often tolerate drought conditions once it is established. It can also handle light foot traffic, so feel free to use it as an edging plant or in a location where people will be walking by often.

Light condition

Like the other members of the Choisya genus, the Sundance Mexican Orange (Choisya ternata 'Sundance') thrives in full sun to partial shade. It's a heat-tolerant evergreen that produces an abundance of sweetly fragrant, white flowers in the spring and sporadically throughout the summer and fall. The Sundance Mexican Orange is a low-maintenance shrub that's suitable for use as a specimen planting, informal hedge or foundation planting.

Good Temperature

The temperature condition that is best for Choisya ternata 'Sundance' is full sun. This plant is not tolerant of shady conditions and will not bloom as profusely if grown in too much shade. It is cold hardy to USDA zone 6 and will tolerate some frost, but will perform best in warmer climates.

Humidity Requirement

Ideal humidity condition for this plant is 50 to 60 percent. The plant does best in bright, indirect sunlight but can tolerate some direct sun. It is important to keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out before watering. During the winter, water less frequently, allowing the top two inches of soil to dry out.

Fertilizing

For the fertilizer, this family of plant recommend a 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 fertilizer be used on a regular basis. However, if you find that your plant is not growing as vigorously as you would like, you can supplement with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. For the roots, it is important to keep the root ball moist but not soggy. If the roots dry out, the plant will become stressed and may die.

About light

Pruning is an important aspect of caring for your Choisya ternata Sundance. While it is not necessary to prune every year, it is important to do so when the plant is young to encourage growth. Pruning also helps to keep the plant healthy and can prevent disease. When pruning, be sure to remove any dead or dying branches.

Plant Propagation

Propagation : Choisya ternata 'Sundance' can be propagated by seed, softwood cuttings, or semi-ripe cuttings. Seed: Sow seed in a cold frame in spring. Softwood cuttings: Take cuttings in late spring or early summer. Semi-ripe cuttings: Take cuttings in late summer or early fall.

Growth Rate

Usually, the plant growth rate is considered fast. This means that they add several inches of growth each year. With proper care, a sundance choisya can achieve a growth rate of about two feet per year.

The Problems

Common problems for this kind of plant are powdery mildew, leaf spots, and root rot. These problems are usually caused by too much moisture or too little light. To avoid these problems, make sure to water your choisya ternata sundance regularly and give it plenty of light.

Basics of Growing

  • Do not forget to water your plant regularly. The plant needs a lot of water, so make sure to water it at least once a day.
  • Feed your plant with a high-quality fertilizer.
  • Place your plant in a sunny spot.
  • Prune your plant regularly to encourage new growth.
  • Do not forget to protect your plant from pests and diseases.
  • Keep an eye on the soil moisture level and make sure it does not get too dry or too wet.
  • Check the plant for any Blossom End Rot and remove any affected leaves or stems immediately.
  • When the plant is flowering, do not remove the flowers as they will turn into fruits.
  • After the fruits are ripe, pick them and enjoy!
  • Have patience! Growing a Choisya Ternata Sundance plant can take some time, but it is definitely worth the wait.

Alternative Plants

  • Choisya ternata 'sundance' (Farewell to spring)
  • Sundance (Disambiguation)
  • Sundance (Electronic music festival)
  • Sundance (Film festival)
  • Sundance (Lake pattern)
  • Sundance (Music festival)
  • Sundance Film Festival
  • Sundance Film Festival Awards
  • Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Dramatic Competition
  • Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Dramatic Competition directing award

Source:
JC Raulston Arboretum - Photographs of Choisya ternata 'Sundance'
Sundance Mexican Orange - Choisya ternata 'Sundance' - PNW …
Choisya ternata - 2012 - earth.callutheran.edu

Richelle Author Photo
Reviewed & Published by Richelle
Submitted by our contributor
Shrubs Category