SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 9805.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "9805" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Mexican orange

Scientific Name: Choisya dumosa var. mollis

Family: Rutaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Shrub

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Mexican Orange Blossom (Choisya ternata)

The Mexican Orange Blossom, scientifically known as Choisya ternata, is a popular evergreen shrub appreciated for its fragrant flowers and aromatic foliage.

Considerations for Pets

  • The plant has aromatic foliage which may be attractive to pets.

Considerations for Children

  • The plant has aromatic foliage which may be attractive to children.

Nomenclature and Taxonomy

  • Scientific Name: Choisya ternata
  • Common Names: Mexican Orange Blossom, Mock Orange
  • Family: Rutaceae (Rue family)
  • The genus Choisya is named after Swiss botanist Jacques Choisy.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to Mexico.
  • Choisya ternata is one of the few shrubs native to Mexico that thrives in the UK.
  • Choisya dumosa (Starleaf Mexican orange) grows in sandy and rocky slopes in the Trans-Pecos region, extending into New Mexico and Arizona.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • Evergreen shrub.
  • Grows to approximately 3 meters (9 feet) in height and width.
  • Medium growth rate.
  • Has dark, glossy green leaves divided into three broad leaflets.
  • Fragrant, star-shaped white flowers that bloom in late spring, and sometimes again in late summer and autumn.
  • Aromatic foliage.
  • Compact and rounded habit.

Cultivars

  • 'Sundance' (Choisya ternata 'Sundance' or Choisya ternata 'Lich'): Known for its bright yellow foliage.
  • 'Aztec Pearl': Characterized by narrower leaves compared to the standard Choisya ternata.

Ecological Role

  • Attracts pollinators (unspecified).

Cultivation and Care

  • Hardy to zone 7 (UK).
  • Prefers sun or shade.
  • Tolerates any soil type.
  • Requires minimal maintenance.
  • Annual trimming after flowering is recommended to maintain a neat shape.
  • Water-wise shrub.
  • Hedges well.

Quirky Facts

  • The plant is called Mexican Orange Blossom because the flowers resemble those of the orange tree, and its crumpled foliage reminds one of the smell of orange trees.

Further Information

  • Dave's Garden community.
  • Monrovia plant details and information.