Philadelphus

Philadelphus (/ˌfɪləˈdɛlfəs/[1]) (mock-orange) is a genus of about 60 species of shrubs from 3–20 ft (1–6 m) tall, native to North America, Central America, Asia and (locally) in southeast Europe.

For other uses, see Philadelphus (disambiguation).

Mock-orange
Philadelphus × purpureomaculatus, cultivar 'Belle Étoile'
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Cornales
Family:	Hydrangeaceae
Subfamily:	Hydrangeoideae
Tribe:	Philadelpheae
Genus:	Philadelphus L.
Species
About 60, see text

They are named "mock-orange" in reference to their flowers, which in wild species look somewhat similar to those of oranges and lemons (Citrus) at first glance, and smell of orange flowers and jasmine (Jasminum). But Philadelphus is a basal asterid, not closely related to Jasminum (advanced asterids), and among the eudicots quite distant from Citrus (advanced rosids). An entirely misleading name for Philadelphus that is sometimes encountered is syringa;[2] this properly refers to the lilacs, which are fairly close relatives of jasmine. The connection of the two shrubs lies in their introduction from Ottoman gardens to European ones, effected at the same time by the Holy Roman emperor's ambassador to the Sublime Porte, Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq, who returned to Vienna in 1562. The two shrubs appear together in John Gerard's Herball, as "Blew Pipe" (the lilac) and "White Pipe Tree", for the woods of both are pithy and easily hollowed out.[3]

Philadelphus is named after an ancient Greek king of Egypt, Ptolemy II Philadelphus.

Description and ecology

Flowering Lewis's Mock-orange (Philadelphus lewisii) in habitat

Most are deciduous but a few species from the south of the genus' range are evergreen. The leaves are opposite, simple, with serrated margins, from 0.5-6 inches (1–14 cm) long. The flowers are white, with four petals and sepals, 0.5-2 inches (1–4 cm) diameter, and commonly (but not in all species) sweetly scented. The fruit is a small capsule, containing numerous small seeds. The bark is thin and flaky, finely shredding in longitudinal strips.

Mock-oranges are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the engrailed (Ectropis crepuscularia). A noted pathogen of the sweet mock-orange (P. coronarius) is the undescribed proteobacterium called "Pseudomonas tomato" (pv. philadelphi).

Cultivation

For a long time, Philadelphus coronarius was the only mock-orange of gardens, though some adventurous Americans grew the native P. inodorus that Mark Catesby had discovered growing on the banks of the Savannah River. It appeared in Lady Skipwith's garden lists and George Washington ordered some from Bartram in 1792.[4] Mock-oranges are popular shrubs in parks and gardens, grown for their reliable display of late spring flowers; the scented species are particularly valued. In addition to the species, there are numerous garden origin hybrids and cultivars available, selected for doubleness and large flowers, with some compromise as to scent.

The following hybrid cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:-[5]

• ’Aureus’ (P. coronarius)[6]
• 'Beauclerk'[7]
• 'Belle Étoile'[8]
• ’Innocence’[9]
• 'Manteau d'Hermine'[10]
• 'Sybille'[11]
• ’Variegatus’ (P. coronarius)[12]

In culture

Lewis' mock-orange (P. lewisii) is the state flower of Idaho.[13]

Selected species

Mexican evergreen mock-orange, Philadelphus karwinskyanus

Japanese mock-orange, Philadelphus laxus

Hoary mock-orange, Philadelphus pubescens

Schrenk's mock-orange, Philadelphus schrenkii

• Philadelphus argenteus – Silver mock-orange (California, Baja California)
• Philadelphus argyrocalyx – Silver-cup mock-orange (New Mexico)
• Philadelphus brachybotrys (southeast China)
• Philadelphus californicus – California mock-orange (California)
• Philadelphus caucasicus – Caucasus mock-orange (Caucasus)
• Philadelphus confusus – Piper's mock-orange (California, Washington)
• Philadelphus cordifolius – Heartleaf mock-orange (California)
• Philadelphus coronarius – Sweet mock-orange, English Dogwood (southeast Europe)
• Philadelphus coulteri – Coulter's mock-orange (northwest Mexico)
• Philadelphus crinitus – Hairy mock-orange, Trans-pecos Mock-orange (west Texas)
• Philadelphus delavayi – Delavay's mock-orange (southwest China)
• Philadelphus ernestii – Canyon mock-orange (southwest U.S.)
• Philadelphus floridus – Florida mock-orange (Florida, Georgia)
• Philadelphus gattingeri – Gattinger's mock-orange (Tennessee)
• Philadelphus hirsutus – Streambank mock-orange (southeast US)
• Philadelphus hitchcockianus – Hitchcock's mock-orange (Texas, New Mexico)
• Philadelphus incanus (Hubei, Shaanxi)
• Philadelphus inodorus – Scentless mock-orange (US)
• Philadelphus insignis – Summer mock-orange (California, Oregon)
• Philadelphus intectus (southeast US)
• Philadelphus kansuensis – Chinese evergreen mock-orange (northwest China)
• Philadelphus karwinskyanus – Mexican evergreen mock-orange (Mexico)
• Philadelphus laxiflorus (Gansu, Hubei, Shaanxi)
• Philadelphus laxus Schrad. ex DC. – Japanese mock-orange (Japan; formerly P. satsumi
• Philadelphus × lemoinei (horticultural hybrid)
• Philadelphus lewisii – Lewis's mock-orange (western North America)
• Philadelphus maculatus (Hitch.) Hu – Spotted mock-orange (Arizona)
• Philadelphus madrensis – Desert mountain mock-orange (southwest US)
• Philadelphus mearnsii – Mearns' mock-orange (Texas, New Mexico)
• Philadelphus mexicanus – Mexican mock-orange (Mexico, Guatemala)
• Philadelphus microphyllus – Littleleaf mock-orange (southwest US)
• Philadelphus occidentalis – Western mock-orange (western North America)
• Philadelphus oreganus – Oregon mock-orange (Oregon)
• Philadelphus palmeri – Palmer's mock-orange (southwest US)
• Philadelphus pekinensis – Beijing mock-orange (northern China)
• Philadelphus pubescens – Hoary mock-orange (southeast US)
• Philadelphus pumilus – Dwarf mock-orange (California)
• Philadelphus purpurascens (southwest China)
• Philadelphus × purpureomaculatus (horticultural hybrid)
• Philadelphus satsumanus – Downy Japanese mock-orange (Japan)
• Philadelphus schrenkii – Korean mock-orange[14] (northeast China, Korea, southeast Russia)
• Philadelphus sericanthus (Sichuan, Hubei)
• Philadelphus serpyllifolius – Thymeleaf mock-orange (southern US, Mexico)
• Philadelphus sharpianus – Sharp's mock-orange (Tennessee, Missouri)
• Philadelphus subcanus (southwest China)
• Philadelphus tenuifolius – Slenderleaf mock-orange (Korea, southeast Russia)
• Philadelphus texensis – Texas mock-orange (Texas)
• Philadelphus tomentosus – Fuzzy mock-orange (Himalaya)
• Philadelphus trichothecus – Columbian mock-orange (British Columbia, northwest US)
• Philadelphus triflorus – Himalayan mock-orange (Himalaya)
• Philadelphus × virginalis (horticultural hybrid)
• Philadelphus wootonii – Wooton's mock-orange (New Mexico)
• Philadelphus zelleri – Zeller's mock-orange (Washington)

References

1. Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
2. "State Symbols USA: Idaho State Flower".
3. Alice M. Coats, Garden Plants and Their Histories (1964) 1992, s.v. "Philadelphus".
4. Ann Leighton, American Gardens of the Eighteenth Century: 'ForUse or for Delight' , 1976, s.v. "Mock-orange", "Philadelphus".
5. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 76. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
6. "RHS Plantfinder - Philadelphus coronarius 'Aureus'". Retrieved 24 April 2018.
7. "RHS Plant Selector - Philadelphus 'Beauclerk'". Retrieved 25 May 2013.
8. "RHS Plant Selector - Philadelphus 'Belle Étoile'". Retrieved 25 May 2013.
9. "RHS Plantfinder - Philadelphus 'Innocence'". Retrieved 24 April 2018.
10. "RHS Plant Selector - Philadelphus 'Manteau d'Hermine'". Retrieved 25 May 2013.
11. "RHS Plant Selector - Philadelphus 'Sybille'". Retrieved 25 May 2013.
12. "RHS Plantfinder - Philadelphus coronarius 'Variegatus'". Retrieved 24 April 2018.
13. "State Emblems of Idaho". Idaho Secretary of State. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
14. English Names for Korean Native Plants (PDF). Pocheon: Korea National Arboretum. 2015. p. 5690. ISBN 978-89-97450-98-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2016 – via Korea Forest Service.

External links

• "Philadelphus" . New International Encyclopedia. 1905.