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Native Plant Propagation Guidelines:
shrubs

Philadelphus lewisii (mock-orange)

Category: 
shrubs

(photo by Dave Polster)   

Erect, loosely branched shrub, to 3 m tall; bark dark brown, checking and eventually flaking off. Leaves opposite, deciduous, short-stalked, oval to egg-shaped, 3-5 cm long, light green, margins essentially smooth but with some teeth on young leaves, three major veins from the leaf base. Flowers white, 2-3 cm broad, fragrant, usually with four petals and numerous stamens, 3-15 in clusters at the end of lateral branches. Fruits oval, woody, four chambered capsules approximately 1 cm long. Vegetative and floral characteristics are extremely variable depending on local ecological conditions (Pojar et al., 1994).

Scientific Name: 

Philadelphus lewisii Pursh

Family: 
Hydrangeaceae
English Name: 
mock-orange
Other Names: 
Lewis’ mock-orange, Indian arrow-wood, Indian arrowhead, syringia, mock-orange

Geographical Range and Habitat Requirements

Ecological Setting: 

From British Columbia and southwest Alberta southward through Montana and Idaho to northern California (Stickney, 1974). Sub-continental to continental cool temperate and cool semi-arid climates. Occurrence increases with increasing temperatures and decreases with increasing elevation. Scattered occurrence in open-canopied Douglas-fir forests, but most common on water-shedding sites (Klinka et al., 1989). Habitat varies from open forests and forest edges to open brushy communities at low to middle elevations (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994). Normally scattered at low densities but sometimes occurs in dense, localized stands (Carey, 1995).

Soil Texture: 

Organic soils on forest sites; rocky soils on brushy, dry sites (Pojat and MacKinnon, 1994).

Nutrients: 

Nitrogen-medium soils (Klinka et al., 1989).

Soil Reaction and Salinity: 

pH 4.1 to neutral (Klinka et al., 1989).

Moisture Regime: 

Moderately dry to moist (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994).

Shade Tolerance: 

Sun loving to moderately shade tolerant (Klinka et al., 1989).

Successional Status: 

Early to mid-seral species. Often present in seral shrub communities following logging and burning. Top may be killed by fire but the root crown usually survives and produces sprouts (Carey, 1995).

BEC Zone and GOE Community Status: 

Characteristic of the Garry oak-Douglas-fir community. Associated with indicator plants such as dull Oregon grape and ocean spray (Klinka et al., 1989).

Uses

Site Rehabilitation: 

Riparian bank stabilization, adapted to areas of full and partial sun. Suitable for both upland and seasonally inundated areas (SSWC, 1998). Not suitable for compacted clay soils (Crowder and Darris, 1999).

Wildlife: 

Attracts bees and butterflies (SSWC, 1998). Moderately important winter forage for deer and elk. Seeds eaten by birds and rodents. Dense shrub habitats, particularly along riparian areas, provide good summer and winter wildlife cover (Stickney, 1974; Carey, 1995).

Landscaping: 

Showy, aromatic flowers. Potential use in both native plant and mixed gardens. Good for hedges and shrub borders. Related garden plant commonly grown in the Pacific Northwest is the European variety P. coronarius (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994). Very sensitive to herbicide sprays (Carey, 1995).

First Nations: 

The Saanich and Skagit used the wood for bows and arrows; the Lummie and Cowlitz used the wood for combs, netting shuttles and knitting needles. The Snohomish, Cowlitz and others used a lather obtained by bruising and rubbing the leaves and flowers for cleansing the skin (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994).

Other Uses: 

The wood is strong and hard and does not crack or warp when cured properly (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994).

Seed Propagation

Flowering Time: 

Early May to mid-June

Fruit Ripening Time: 

Late summer

Seed Collection Time: 

Mid-September to late October

Crop Intervals: 

Annual

Number of Seeds per Kilogram: 

7.7 million to 17 million

Seed Viability: 

50 to 65% if stratified for full 8 weeks.

Fruit and Seed Collection and Extraction: 

Check during mid-August for seed development and frequently prior to collection to ascertain collection timing. Use cutting test, half-section method to assess developing seeds within capsules. Capsules are best collected from standing plants by hand-picking directly into picking bags (Banerjee et al., 2001). Extract seeds by gently crushing the dried capsules and passing them through an aspirator (Rose, 1998).

Seed Storage: 

No information available

Fruit/Seed Dormancy and Treatment: 

Stratify seeds at 5º C for eight weeks. Germinate at temperatures from 22-26º C. Can also be fall-sown.

Vegetative Propagation

Method Success Rate Time of Collection
Softwood cuttings Excellent. Treat with 1000 ppm IBA. Root under mist in 1:1 peat/perlite. June and July
Semi-hardwood cuttings n/a August - September
Hardwood cuttings Good. Treat with 2500 to 8000 ppm IBA. Insert 20 cm cuttings, 15 cm deep into sandy medium. Late winter to spring
Root cuttings Fair to good Not reported
Suckers Fair to good Not reported
Plant division Fair to good Not reported

 

Outplanting Characteristics and Requirements

May need to be selectively pruned and/or transplanted to prevent crowding out of slower growing species such as oceanspray and ninebark (UW, 2001). Easily grown plant tolerant of a wide variety of soils, including heavy clays (PFAF, 2006).

Seed and Cutting Propagation Techniques

n/a

Additional Information and Photos

For more information and pictures, visit the E-Flora BC website at www.eflora.bc.ca.

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