Meet CHEYENNE® Mock Orange, a Western Native
May 2nd, 2018
CHEYENNE® mock orange (Philadelphus lewisii) outperforms other species and varieties of Philadelphus with its profusion of pure white flowers that blanket the plant late in spring and continue to bloom sporadically until mid-summer. Four-petaled flowers have an eye-catching yellow center and a sweet citrusy fragrance that is sure to satisfy your senses.
CHEYENNE® mock orange has a soft texture that is not usually found in native/xeric shrubs and certainly breaks the mold of what many people think a tough, drought-tolerant shrub looks like.
The blue-green, oval-shaped leaves and pleasing billowy habit (that can become somewhat vase-shaped with age) make this a perfect plant for a mixed-shrub planting or at the back of a perennial border in a naturalistic landscape.
It can get somewhat large with time, but size can be maintained by pruning once blooming has finished. It is a perfect shrub for western states like Idaho, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming because it tolerates poor, heavy soil, even thriving in dry, shaded locations.
Philadelphus lewisii was named in honor of the great western explorer Meriwether Lewis who first collected it in 1806 on their return trip to St Louis. In 1934, samples were collected in Alberta, Canada and brought to the USDA Research Station outside of Cheyenne, Wyoming. The samples were planted along with many other species of Philadelphus. (See its full native range here.)
The plant that later became known as ‘Cheyenne’ is still thriving today, after years of little or no care, while all the other species of mock orange have all perished.
Plant with native shrubs that bloom at different times throughout the growing season (PAWNEE BUTTES® sand cherry, Fernbush and Autumn Amber sumac). Make sure to find a spot in your garden for this incredible shrub. It’s a favorite of novice gardeners and bona fide plant geeks alike.
Submitted by: Matt Kaylor, Fort Collins Wholesale Nursery
