Mock Orange

Ask the Expert: Flowering Tree/Shrub Identification
The attached tree/shrub is in our backyard. It’s bloomed for the first time this year (this month) and I’ve had no luck identifying it. Any ideas? Any suggestions on care? The blooms are sparse, can I do anything to coax additional blooms in future years?

Philadelphus

Thank you. Aubrey

Plant Expert reply:

I believe what you have is a member of the genus Styrax commonly referred to as snowbells.  There are several spiecies like

Styrax americanus (American Snowbells), Styrax grandifolius (bigleaf snowbells), Styrax japonicus (Japansese snowbells).  What you have is either Styrax officinalis or Styrax japonicus.

Styrax

During the growing season use a well-balanced fertilizer once a month.  This should help with the blooms for next year as well as the health of the plant this year.  These plants bloom on previous and current year’s growth and will need minimal pruning.  You can prune these in late winter or early spring when dormant.  Over pruning can keep plants from blooming.

I stand corrected. Jason commented that Aubrey’s plant was a mock orange and not a snowbell. I sent this message to Aubrey:

We had someone on the blog you believe your plant is a mock orange instead of a snowbell. One way for us to determine which identification is correct is to discuss fragrance. Did the plant have a sweet fragrance when blooming? Also if you have a picture of it in full bloom could you please send it.

Aubrey replied this morning

The blooms look much more like the mock orange, now that I’ve looked it up. I only had 3 blooms this year, and they are gone now (this is the first time it’s ever bloomed). The blooms had a pleasant fragrance, slightly sweet.

I’m hoping a bit a fertilizer will results in a full bloom next year.

Thanks.
Aubrey

Since the plant had a fragrance and Aubrey believed the actual blooms looked like a mock orange, the plant must be a mock orange. I have changed the name on the original photos to mock orange – Philadelphus. I have also attached a picture of a snowbell.

Thanks Jason for correctly identifying the plant.