Sweet mock orange is a plant. The scientific name for this plant is Citrus sinensis. The sweet mock orange is part of the Rutaceae family. This plant is native to China, but it is also found in many other countries. The sweet mock orange is a citrus tree. This tree can grow to be about 20 feet tall. The sweet mock orange has dark green leaves. The flowers of this plant are white and have a strong smell. The sweet mock orange tree blooms in the spring and summer. The fruits of this tree are orange and they are edible.
Related plant:
Sweet Almond Bush
Related plant:
Ruby Spice Summersweet
About soil condition, sweet mock orange prefers well-drained soils, and cannot tolerate waterlogged conditions. The roots are relatively shallow, so the plant may need extra watering during periods of drought.
So, like the other citrus trees, the sweet mock orange tree thrives in full sun. It is important to plant this tree in an area that gets a minimum of six hours of sunlight each day. The tree will also do well in partial sun, but it may not produce as many flowers.
The temperature condition for a sweet mock orange is relatively warm. They can tolerate some cold, but prefer temperatures above freezing. They will also do well in hot weather, as long as they have some shade during the hottest part of the day.
Ideal humidity condition for this plant is 40% to 60%. The leaves of this plant will start to fall off if the humidity dips below 40%. If the humidity is too high, the leaves will become yellow and start to fall off.
About fertilizer, this type of plant requires little attention. A light feeding in spring is all that is needed to keep it looking its best. As for the roots, sweet mock orange is not particular and will do just fine in most any type of well-drained soil.
Pruning is an important part of keeping your sweet mock orange healthy and vigorous. It encourages new growth and helps to keep the plant in shape. Prune in early spring, before new growth begins. Remove any dead, diseased, or damaged wood, as well as any suckers or water sprouts. Cut back the main stems by about one-third to promote bushy growth.
Propagation of sweet mock orange is best done through rooting of semi-ripe cuttings taken from the tips of the current year's growth in late summer. The cuttings should be about 6 inches long and should have at least 2 leaves. Place the cuttings in a planting mix of one part perlite to one part peat moss and water well. Keep the mix moist but not wet and in a few weeks the cuttings should have rooted. Once they have rooted, they can be transplanted into individual pots and grown on until they are large enough to plant out in the landscape.
Usually, the plant growth rate is determined by the rootstock. Mature trees are generally 20 to 30 feet tall with a spread of 15 to 20 feet. The sweet mock orange is a deciduous shrub that blooms in late spring and early summer. The fragrant flowers are white with orange highlights and attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The fruit is a small, oval-shaped orange. Sweet mock orange is tolerant of a wide range of soils and conditions, but prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It is drought tolerant and does not require a lot of water once established.
Common problems for this kind of plant plants include powdery mildew, scale insects, and root rot. Powdery mildew is a white powdery fungus that can be found on the leaves and stems of the plant. Scale insects are small, hard-bodied insects that attach themselves to the plant and feed on the sap. Root rot is a condition caused by too much moisture in the soil, which can lead to the plant's roots rotting.
Source:
Philadelphus Lewisii- Mock orange | Urban Garden Ecology
Other sweet oranges | Givaudan Citrus Variety Collection at UCR
Pittosporum tobira - North Carolina State University
