OT - can you ID this bush?

6 years ago

On either side of the bed my DH built around the stump of our long lamented oak tree (where the rose 'Dawson's Apple Blossom' is thriving, not so much the yellow tea I planted next to it), are two flowering bushes which were mature when we moved in in 1989, and may have been there for decades. They bloom each Spring for 1-2 months without fail. They get NO CARE at all, except in our old garden they probably get fed by the dropping leaves I don't ever pic up. Here are whole bush and close up pics. I am hoping someone can ID them. The family calls them "snowball bushes", but when I googled that they bore no resemblance to what google thought that was. I have inquired on the Perennial forum, but from past experience I get much faster and better ideas on this one, so trying that too. Any thoughts would be appreciated -

Jackie

Featured Answer

catspa_zone9sunset14

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Here is a close-up (from last year) of one of the cuttings I took from my mother's ~ 60-year old shrub (which was about the same size as the ones in your photo, Jackie), prior to selling her house in Santa Rosa. I believe my mother's was Philadelphus coronarius, which was a favorite, old-fashioned variety, aka "mock orange". It is astoundingly beautiful in bloom, with a scent to die for, and it is tough as anything. It is relatively easy to root -- nearly every cutting I made took. So now I have five planted in various places in my garden, two at my neighbor's house, and a few more looking for homes...

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Comments (14)

User
6 years ago
This is Philadelphus I would say. There are many varieties and I wouldn't know what is or was available in your area at that time. A popular one here that grows huge is 'Virginal', although it's a bit more double...

What we call 'snowball' bushes are really Viburnum opulus varieties, nothing to do with what you've got, as you've realised...
User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
You might have this one Jackie... Philadelphus coronarius. Here is a link to a short youtube video from a Californian gardener, highlighting this plant. See what you think.. they are very beautiful, as we see in your garden there..

you tube

edit.. Oh I see on the perennial forum they've come up with the same one,.. so that's ok..
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Lisa Adams
6 years ago
Is that what they call a “Mock Orange”? It reminds me of them, but I can’t remember the true name for them. Lisa
AquaEyes 7a NJ
6 years ago
Yes, I agree with Marlorena. And, yes, Philadelphus = Mock Orange. My only concern is that there was no mention of fragrance in the original post, and I think Philadelphus is one of the most fragrant flowering shrubs out there. It gets its common name from the smell of orange blossoms that waft for quite a few feet around a bush in bloom. Unless, of course, there are non-fragrant species out there....

:-)

~Christopher
jacqueline9CA
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you all so much! Mine certainly does look like the pictures of Philaelphus coronarius. I just went out an smelled it. It is fragrant, but not as fragrant as many of my roses which are in bloom right now, and definitely not "wafting". However, the scent is delicious, and reminiscent of something I cannot place..

Jackie
Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley
6 years ago
Definitely Philadelphus, but not all are fragrant. I have three varieties growing here only one of which has that wafting, heavenly scent. The others have a slightly different flowerts. Catspat, how did you go about rooting yours? Were they hardwood cuttings?
catspa_zone9sunset14
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Actually, softwood cuttings, vaporvac, taken shortly after it stopped blooming (late spring/early summer). Handled them pretty much like rose cuttings (soda bottle over the pot, half perlite/half peat medium, rooting hormone powder, under the shade of the orange tree), and they rooted pretty fast.
Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Thank you! I was just thinking today that I'd like more of them for my "woodland" hillside. Maybe I'll try some of my spirea, as well. Hydrangea are super easy, btw.
Lisa Adams
6 years ago
Hydrangeas are easy, Vap? I never would have thought of that! I have an old, lovely one in front of my house, in the bed where I grow ‘Felicia’ and ‘Bubble Bath’. I wouldn’t mind another one in the backyard for the shaded side at the bottom of my slope. Did you take your cuttings from a stem that had already bloomed, or a newly growing shoot? Thanks, Lisa
Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Usually it's something that just broken off, Lisa! LOL! I think they're good so long as they aren't dormant. I stick them in damp potting soil and they grow roots. I've even done one in water that I forgot about, but never just perlite. Another very easy way is to peg a stem down with a rock and pile soil on it. It will create roots and you can just cut off the baby. You can do that with Spirea, also. Unlike roses, I've had 100% success with hydrangeas. I'm going to try my smooth H. this year. I love those huge pom-poms.
Lisa Adams
6 years ago
Fabulous, Vap! I’m going to give it a go! Thanks very much! Lisa
User
6 years ago
My parents called the Philadelphus in our yard "Mock Oranges" too.As I recall, they were scented but it wasn't an extremely intense perfume, the way some roses are.

I sure wish I could grow some hydrangeas out in my garden; I love the blue ones. But they require so much water,at least when young...
nikthegreek
6 years ago
It's scent reminds one of jasmin.