by Courtney Murphy | December 2020
At the beginning of planting season, volunteers often ask about a specific shrub we plant – Philadelphus lewisii, or mock orange. Many people haven’t seen mock orange around the watershed and are more familiar with its ornamental cultivars, but it’s a native shrub with a range that stretches from southern British Columbia to northern California. Drought and fire resistant, it provides food and cover for elk, deer, birds, rodents, and pollinators.
Mock orange gets its common name from the scent of its white flowers, which bloom in late May or early June. We plant mock orange primarily because it adds biodiversity to understories that would otherwise be dominated by snowberry and tall Oregon grape, but it’s a great plant for habitat restoration for many reasons. Mock orange grows well in a variety of habitats, from streamside riparian zones to dry rocky slopes. Unlike many native shrubs it can withstand full sun, and makes a great choice when planting cleared areas. Once established, it grows rapidly and will get up to 12-15 feet tall.
