Caring For
Mexican Orange Blossoms (Choisya ternata)
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 |
Mexican Orange
Blossoms are generally free from pests and diseases and look after
themselves quite well. However, give them just a little tender loving
care and they will reward you well. One point worth noting is that
Choisya ternata is resistant to Honey Fungus.
The dates in the care
calendar below are adjusted
for your home town if you have previously set it, if not
click here to go and set all
GardenAction dates for your area. |
| early April
|
Feed
your Mexican Orange Blossom. Scatter a couple of handfuls of bonemeal around (but not
touching) the base of the plant and cover with a mulch of well-rotted
compost. |
|
From late May to late June
|
Remove the flower heads
as they fade and cut out the flower stems of about 50% of the faded
flowers. This will encourage a second flush of flowers in the autumn. |
| late June |
Choisya require no pruning other than to
remove any damaged stems. You may also trim them to the shape and size you want. They
can be hard-pruned to the ground if a very severe frost has damaged them. |
|
mid August
|
Take semi-ripe cuttings.
See the next page for more detailed information on cuttings |
| mid October
|
Plant
your new Mexican Orange Blossom. Place the plant in hole to the same depth
as it was in the pot. Container grown examples can be planted at any time
of the year but the soil warmth and moisture at this time of year gives
the best start. Also you will not need to water if they are planted at this
time of year. |
How to Plant a Mexican Orange
Blossom
Choisya ternata (bottom)
Choisya ternata Sundance (top). Click to enlarge |
The ideal position for your Mexican Orange
Blossom is in full sun (although they tolerate partial shade very
well) and with some protection against harsh winter winds.
Your
Mexican Orange Blossom will probably come in a largish pot. Dig a hole about the
depth of the pot and about twice as wide. Mix a handful of bonemeal
into the dug up soil.
|
Remove the Mexican Orange Blossom from the pot. The way to do this
is to place a hand over the soil in the pot with fingers either side
of the main stem. Turn the plant upside down and ease it out of the
pot. If the plant has become root bound, gently tease out some of the
roots from the base of the root ball. Place the Mexican Orange Blossom in the hole.
The top of the soil of the root ball should be level
with the garden soil. Adjust the height of the plant by adding soil
under it if needed. Fill in the hole around the plant with the dug
soil. Firm the soil down as you fill in the hole to ensure the
Mexican Orange Blossom isn't blown over in strong wind. Water well to consolidate
the soil
How to Prune a Mexican Orange
Blossom
 |
Mexican Orange Blossoms have no special pruning needs, simply prune to
the shape and size you want each year. When you are doing this, check
for any damaged branches and trim these off. On the left is a
Choisya ternata Sundance which has successfully been pruned into
a low level hedge. Pruning at the time specified in the calendar
above allows the plant to flower in Spring. Click the picture to
enlarge. |
Mexican Orange Blossoms have no special pruning needs, simply prune to
the shape and size you want each year. When you are doing this, check
for any damaged branches and trim these off.
If a
severe frost has damaged the plant badly, it can be cut to 25cm (1ft)
from the ground and it will grow back over the next few years.
How to Propagate a Mexican
Orange Blossom
Mexican Orange Blossoms are propagated from semi-ripe
cuttings taken in mid August. The procedure for semi-ripe cuttings is
common to many shrubs. This is covered in great detail in
another of our articles,
click here to go
there now. With Mexican Orange Blossom cuttings there is a medium to
good chance of success.
Click here if you want buy Mexican Orange Blossom online in the UK from our
recommended suppliers.
CLICK HERE FOR
PREVIOUS Mexican Orange Blossom PAGE
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Gardening Advice Center
Share with us your gardening experience!
Name: jim@GardenAction
E-mail: Private
Date posted: October 23, 2011 - 11:57 pm
Message: The animal sounds more like a rabbit. They taste good. Cover with frost cloth in winter.
Name: annie
E-mail: Private
Date posted: October 23, 2011 - 07:56 am
Message: Hi, lovely website!I have a CHOYSIA shrub,about 5ft tall,in a raised bed,it didnt flower this year I think becos after last winter's heavy snow,it was dying back at the tips,and I cut away those bits,-Now a creature not sure if its a fox or a cat,is burrowing deep at its root,leaving a gaping hole,which I keep re-filling.1)I hope it will flower again soon,2)how can I stop what ever creature is burrowing there?3)what can I do to protect it this coming winter?Thanks. hope to hear back.
Name: chris mucha
E-mail: Private
Date posted: August 28, 2011 - 04:24 am
Message: I have an orange blossom as a hedge on acreage these are beautiful when you get a bit of rain in summer and the orange blossom perfume permeates in the air.However,I have a few rows where they have lost all their green coloured leaves and are quite yellow,can you please advise what could be doing this,as the rest of the hedge is quite green, many thanks Chris.
Name: Valerie Tilley
E-mail: Private
Date posted: May 20, 2011 - 09:37 am
Message: You state that this plant has no perfume. Mine smell magnificant. Are there different varieties, some perfumed, others not?
Thank you.
Name: Jean
E-mail: Private
Date posted: November 17, 2010 - 06:15 am
Message: Do I have to prune my Choiysa now (Nov) or can it wait until the Spring. I have a few, some large and some new.
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