Mock orange bush is a plant that is native to North America. It is a deciduous shrub that can grow to be about six feet tall. The leaves of the mock orange bush are dark green and the flowers are white. The mock orange bush blooms in the spring and summer.
Related plant:
Mock Orange Varieties
Related plant:
Mock Orange Tree
About soil , a mock orange bush prefers well-drained soil that is high in organic matter. It is also important to make sure the soil is not too wet or too dry. The bush can tolerate a range of soil pH levels, but it prefers slightly acidic to neutral conditions.
Like the other orange trees, mock orange bushes need a lot of sun to produce fruit. In general, they need at least six hours of sunlight per day to produce fruit. However, they can tolerate some shade, especially in the heat of the summer.
The temperature condition that is most ideal for planting a mock orange bush is in early spring. The soil should be moist but not wet, and the air temperature should be between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ideal humidity condition for this plant is around 50%. If the humidity level is too low, the leaves will begin to curl and the plant will go into dormancy. If the humidity level is too high, the leaves will begin to yellow and the plant will become susceptible to fungal diseases.
The fertilizer, this kind of plant food contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, is important for the growth of the mock orange bush. The roots of the bush are very strong, and they can reach up to 6 feet deep into the ground.
Pruning a mock orange bush is an important task that should be done in early spring. This will help the bush to produce new growth and also encourage more flowers. When pruning, be sure to remove any dead or damaged branches. It is also a good idea to thin out the bush so that there is more air circulation.
Propagation is typically done through rooting stem cuttings taken from the parent plant. The cuttings should be taken from new growth that is still soft and flexible. Each cutting should be about 4-6 inches long and have at least 2-3 sets of leaves. Cut just below a leaf node, making sure to use a sharp knife or pruning shears. Remove the bottom leaves from the cutting and dip the cut end into rooting hormone. Plant the cutting in a pot filled with moistened potting mix and place in a warm, bright location. Keep the soil moist but not soggy and in 4-6 weeks the cutting should have rooted and be ready to transplant.
Usually, the plant growth rate is slow to moderate, with an average of 10 to 18 inches per year. However, some larger varieties may only grow 6 to 12 inches per year. Young plants will usually grow faster than mature plants. Mock orange bushes can be pruned to encourage new growth and to control their size and shape.
Common problems for this kind of plant are scale, Japanese beetles, sooty mold, and dieback. Scale can be controlled with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. Japanese beetles can be controlled with Carbaryl or neem oil. Sooty mold can be controlled with sulfur or horticultural oil. Dieback can be controlled with fungicides such as Benomyl or Mancozeb.
Source:
Philadelphus Lewisii- Mock orange | Urban Garden Ecology
Pittosporum undulatum, mock orange | Trees of Stanford & Environs
Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance (Rutgers NJAES)
