# Sweet Mock Orange (*Philadelphus coronarius*) The Sweet Mock Orange is a lovely shrub that blooms with white flowers that smell sweet! It can grow tall and is great for gardens, attracting butterflies and bees. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Sweet Mock Orange](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Philadelphus_coronarius.jpg&width=800) Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Rainer Bielefeld assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Philadelphus_coronarius.jpg) ## Appearance The Sweet Mock Orange is a deciduous shrub that bursts with clusters of pure white, cup-shaped flowers. Its blooms stand out against dark green leaves, filling the air with a powerful, sweet scent reminiscent of orange blossoms, despite not being a citrus plant. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Cornales - **Family:** Hydrangeaceae - **Genus:** Philadelphus ## Interesting facts - Its amazing scent can carry for long distances on the breeze. - Its scientific name, Philadelphus, honors an ancient Egyptian king! - People used to make pipes and flutes from its hollow stems. - The leaves can be crushed and used as a natural, mild soap! ## Special abilities - **Scent Beacon:** Sweet Mock Orange has intensely fragrant flowers that help it attract pollinators from far distances. - **Fast Bloomer:** Sweet Mock Orange can produce an abundance of flowers quickly to maximize its pollination window. - **Hardy Bush:** Sweet Mock Orange has a vigorous growth habit that helps it establish and thrive in varied garden conditions. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 200-300 cm - **Spread:** 150-250 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Gathers pollen and nectar - **Eaten by:** [Roe Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/roe-deer) (*Capreolus capreolus*) — Browses young shoots and leaves - **Shelter:** [Common Blackbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-blackbird) (*Turdus merula*) — Nests in its dense branches ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always be gentle around plants and don't eat any parts unless you know they are safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Sweet Mock Orange? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Sweet Mock Orange? 200-300 cm ### How wide does Sweet Mock Orange spread? 150-250 cm ### How big are the flowers on Sweet Mock Orange? 2-4 cm ### When does Sweet Mock Orange bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is Sweet Mock Orange edible? No ### Is Sweet Mock Orange toxic? Mild ### What is Sweet Mock Orange's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Virginville](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/virginville) — Pennsylvania, US · Neighborhood - [El Capricho Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/el-capricho-gardens) — Central Spain, ES · Park - [María Luisa Park, Seville](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/maria-luisa-park-seville) — Andalucía, ES · Park [View all places to see Sweet Mock Orange](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/sweet-mock-orange) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Sweet Mock Orange: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sweet-mock-orange)