Philadelphus

[Furries]

Just wondering if anyone has a Philadelphus in their garden?

I’ve just purchased and planted one (the virginal variety). The description said that it was vigorous in growth and needs space to grow, so I’ve given it a good spot in the garden.

Just wanting to hear from anyone who has one in real life. Did it grow quickly, how well does it flower, any hints or tips on looking after it etc.

Oh, and photos would be lovely!!

I will be following this with interest because I've had mine for years and it does not flower:(

I've tried pruning, not pruning, ... I think I just bought a dud!

I'm following too! Really want one as love the smell, but don't have much space, so interested in any tips here too! (Sorry to crash your post!)

I had one. It does get very big and you can let it grow or prune it.
If you decide to prune, do it in late summer once the flowers have finished. It will put on new growth and these will provide next years flowers.

If pruning try to go for just taking out about one third or one quarter each year. Cut some branches hard back and others less so. I hope I have not made that complicated, they really are easy to care for and have beautiful scented flowers.

Absolutely take the pruning advice. Cut back after flowering then hands off till next year. It will flower on the wood that grows after pruning. I mention this as a former neighbour used to cut hers back every spring and complain about lack of flowers. No I've done mine already so no pic but they're lovely, so fragrant. Enjoy.

Thank you so much for the advice - and for those posting wanting the info then welcome, no worries about hijacking thread!!

For those that already have o e, any advice about the first year (or two)? The pruning advice is helpful for once it’s established, but what do I do while it’s such a small specimen?

Keep it watered in the first few months then leave it alone for a couple of years If some branches get a bit leggy or cross each other, then either tie them in to a support or trim them back slightly. Feed it with a weak Seaweed feed or something like Tomorite during the flowering season. Once in Late May then again in Early August. Alternatively you can put a slow release fertiliser around the base in early spring. There should be no need to feed it this year as the nursery will have done that. Not everyone fertilises shrubs and if you have rich soil it should not be necessary .

When feeding always err on the side of caution and make it weaker or spread less than you think you need. Never feed when the soil is dry. A good soaking in the evening then feed a few hours later works best.

That’s really helpful, thank you. I’ll try to remember to post again in a year to update on whether I’ve killed it off or not!!

I did absolutely nothing to mine as a young plant apart from watering. It flowered and grew year on year. The scent is just fabulous! So much so I bought a second for the other side of the garden . Its catching up nicely 3 years on.

Follow the pruning advice above and do any cutting back after flowering so the shoots have s chance to grow again before autumn.

One of my favourite plants. Good choice OP!

Thank you, glad to hear another success story - gives me hope!

I have three Philadelphus, two of them inherited, one from seed, so no idea of the variety. One of the inherited ones has branches 10ft high, and I really should think about pruning and encouraging more growth from the base. The other is 2 ft high and about 5-6 ft across, and hasn't exceeded that in 30 years - so it is possible to have the scent of Philadelphus without having a huge bush.

The one I grew from seed produced its first flowers when it was about 2 years old. It's another tall one.

All three produce masses of flowers in partial shade on total neglect.

I lived in a road of large Edwardian houses with a house sized gap where a bomb had fallen. A Philadelphus filled the site, it was huge. Must have been untouched for fifty years. Unpruned and neglected, in early summer, the road was filled with the scent for weeks.

Thank you Mere, that’s really useful info. I really don’t have much of an idea re gardening and do worry about how much I neglect things!

Longwayoff - wow, that sounds amazing. I don’t know anyone with philadelphus, so I’ve never actually got to smell the blossom, but liked the sound of it from the online description. Keeping my fingers crossed!

So glad this isn’t (as I thought) in the baby names thread!!

Has anyone grown one in a pot?

I’ve never actually got to smell the blossom It's other name is "mock orange" because the smell is reminiscent of the smell of the flowers on orange trees - that doesn't help unless you've been in the Mediterranean region in spring and smelled the orange orchards.

@Furries How is your Philadelphius doing now? I’ve just bought a bare root one cheaply from the Range and am excited about planting it, came across this when looking up tips.