Virginal Mockorange is a tall shrub that grows to 10 feet tall and wide and has an erect form that tends to get leggy. It is easy to grow and prefers fertile moist clay soil but is adaptable to other soils. It is tolerant of occasional drought once established. In June it blooms with clusters of white fragrant flowers. Prune immediately after flowering as it blooms on old wood. It can take severe pruning to help control its size and shape. Cultivars are available in smaller sizes. Plant this shrub where you can enjoy the orange blossom fragrance of the blooms. Potential problems are scale, rust, powdery mildew
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheItea virginica 'Henry' s Garnet'Viburnum carlesii 'Compactum'Viburnum rafinesqueanum
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Leaves are opposite, simple, ovate, 1.5-2 inches long, 1-1.5 inches wide with a rounded base and pointed tip. Margins are slightly toothed. Color is medium to dark green above, tomentose below.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Semi-double to double white flowers in May-June are 3-5 inches wide and occur in clusters of 3-7. Very fragrant.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Small, 4-valved dry capsule is persistent into winter months