Scientific Name: Choisya ternata
Common Name: Mexican mock orange
Family Name: Rutaceae
Origin: Mexico, U.S. - southwest
Hardiness Zone: Zone 7: (-18 to -12 °C)
Plant Type: Broadleaf evergreen
Mature Size: 2 - 3m x 1.5 - 2.0m (height x width)
Habit: Dense
Form: Round
Texture: Medium
Landscape Uses: Accent plant, Fragrance, Group or mass planting, Hedge row, Mixed shrub border, Small garden/space, Spring interest, Winter interest, Woodland margin
Exposure: Part sun/part shade
Soil or Media: Acidic, Well-drained
Leaves: Compound, Opposite, Soft flexible, Pinnate venation, Glabrous, Lustrous, Distinctive smell, Trifoliate (ternate), Oblanceolate, Entire
Flowers: Cyme, White, Apr-May-Jun-Jul-Aug-Sep
Fruit: Capsule, Brown, Oct-Nov
Key ID Features:
Round evergreen shrub; leaves opposite, compound-palmate with 3(-5) glossy, leaflets mostly oblanceolate, 4-8cm long x 2-3cm wide, distinctive pungent, spicy orange or basil-like scent when crushed, oil glands visible when held up to light; florets about 2.5cm wide, 5 white petals, fragrant, mainly Apr.-May (may flower sporadically into Sept.).