The following waas sent via email: Could someone please give me some information on the mockorange in my garden that has never bloomed. There are about 10 healthy bushes all about 9 years old. What is wrong? Thanks
Mock orange usually refers to Philadelphus, but in this area it often refers to Choisya. Can you tell us more about your plants? Where are you located and what kind of conditions do the plants have?
We are in Pender Harbour on the Sunshine Coast. Just new here and figure that the bushes are up to 10 yrs. old. Theplants are positioned in different areas; some on garden bank facing ocean, others are along driveway in sheltered gardens. All are in full sun. Could they have been pruned incorrectly? Maybe in the fall? Thanks
If they are "Philadelphus", they are hardy to to your zone. They flower in late spring, so should be pruned right after flowering. They bloom on previous year wood, so just thin out any old wood and retain the new shoots. If u prune in the fall, your cutting out the shoots that will bloom the next spring.
Pruning aside, some individual Philadelphus bushes don't bloom reliably anyway. This seems to be as frequent a source of consternation as mulish wisterias. If mockoranges that have not been mal-pruned continue to lack flowers for years it may be time to get out the truck and chain.
