Choisya ternata Mexican Orange Blossom Evergreen Shrub

Choisya ternata, commonly known as Mexican orange blossom, is a versatile evergreen shrub with glossy dark green foliage and sweetly fragrant white flowers. Its naturally rounded habit provides year-round structure, with a main flowering display in late spring and possible repeat blooms in late summer or autumn.

Key Features

• Fragrant white flowers bring an orange-blossom scent to the garden.

• Glossy evergreen foliage provides colour and structure throughout the year.

• Possible repeat flowering adds interest in late summer or autumn.

• Naturally rounded, bushy growth suits mixed borders and informal hedging.

• Pollinator-friendly blooms attract bees and other beneficial insects.

• Easy to maintain, thriving in a sheltered spot in sun or partial shade.

Product Description

Choisya ternata combines rich green foliage with clusters of star-shaped white flowers. Each glossy leaf is divided into three broad leaflets, creating a lush, textured appearance. The aromatic foliage releases a citrus scent when brushed or crushed, adding another sensory element to planting schemes.

In late spring, scented flowers stand out against the dark leaves, making this shrub an attractive choice near paths and seating areas. A further flush may appear in late summer or autumn, depending on growing conditions, extending its seasonal appeal.

Its dense, rounded shape works well as a border focal point, an informal hedge or a backdrop to colourful perennials. Plant in fertile, well-drained soil in a sheltered position, where its evergreen foliage can provide lasting structure through winter.

Specifications

• Botanical name: Choisya ternata

• Common names: Mexican orange blossom, Mexican orange

• Plant type: Evergreen shrub

• Family: Rutaceae

• Habit: Dense, bushy and rounded

• Eventual height: Approximately 1.52.5m

• Eventual spread: Approximately 1.52.5m

• Time to maturity: Approximately 1020 years

• Foliage: Glossy, aromatic dark green leaves divided into three leaflets

• Flower colour: White

• Flower shape: Star-shaped blooms carried in clusters

• Fragrance: Scented flowers and aromatic foliage

• Flowering season: Mainly late spring, with possible repeat flowering in late summer or autumn

• Position: Full sun or partial shade

• Exposure: Sheltered

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

• Soil pH: Acid, neutral or alkaline

• Hardiness: RHS H4, approximately 10C to 5C

• Garden uses: Mixed borders, informal hedging, courtyard gardens and cottage gardens

• Wildlife value: Flowers attract pollinating insects

• Growth: Rate and eventual size vary with planting position and conditions

• Seasonal variation: Flowers, foliage and appearance may differ from photographs on delivery, depending on the season

• Delivery restriction: Unfortunately, we are currently unable to deliver plants to Northern Ireland

Care Tips

• Choose a sunny or partially shaded, sheltered position, protected from cold, drying winds.

• Plant in soil that drains freely and avoid permanently waterlogged ground.

• Water regularly while establishing, particularly during dry weather.

• Apply a spring mulch to help retain moisture, keeping it clear of the stems.

• Lightly prune after the main spring flowering display to maintain shape.

• Provide extra protection during severe cold spells, especially for young plants in exposed gardens.

Bring lasting greenery and fragrant seasonal flowers to your garden with Choisya ternata.