Philadelphus microphyllus
Encyclopedia
Philadelphus microphyllus is a species of mock-orange
known by the common name littleleaf mock-orange. It is native to northern Mexico and the southwestern quadrant of the United States as far north as Wyoming
, where it grows in scrub and brush habitat in foothills and mountains, often in very rocky areas, sometimes anchoring itself in rock cracks and crevices.
reaching a maximum height around 2 meters. Young branches are coated in stiff hairs, and older branches have reddish, yellowish, or gray shredding bark. The pointed oval or lance-shaped leaves are up to 2.5 centimeters long, green, and sometimes hairy. They are oppositely arranged and deciduous
.
The inflorescence
is a solitary flower or cluster of two or three. The fragrant flower has four or five white or cream petals and a cluster of many stout stamen
s. The fruit is a hard capsule containing many seeds.
in its native range for: traditional garden
s; natural landscape
, native plant
, drought tolerant water conserving, and habitat gardens; and various types of municipal, commercial, and agency sustainable landscape
and restoration projects.
Mock-orange
Mock-orange is a genus of about 60 species of shrubs from 1 to 6 m tall, native to North America, Central America, Asia and in southeast Europe....
known by the common name littleleaf mock-orange. It is native to northern Mexico and the southwestern quadrant of the United States as far north as Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
, where it grows in scrub and brush habitat in foothills and mountains, often in very rocky areas, sometimes anchoring itself in rock cracks and crevices.
Description
Philadelphus microphyllus is a highly variable plant with many subspecies. In general it is a rounded, spreading shrubShrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
reaching a maximum height around 2 meters. Young branches are coated in stiff hairs, and older branches have reddish, yellowish, or gray shredding bark. The pointed oval or lance-shaped leaves are up to 2.5 centimeters long, green, and sometimes hairy. They are oppositely arranged and deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
.
The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a solitary flower or cluster of two or three. The fragrant flower has four or five white or cream petals and a cluster of many stout stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s. The fruit is a hard capsule containing many seeds.
Cultivation
This flowering shrub, Philadelphus microphyllus, is propagated and used as a drought-tolerant ornamental plantOrnamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
in its native range for: traditional garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
s; natural landscape
Natural landscaping
.Natural landscaping, also called native gardening, is the use of native plants, including trees, shrubs, groundcover, and grasses which are indigenous to the geographic area of the garden.-Maintenance:...
, native plant
California native plants
California native plants are plants that existed in California prior to the arrival of European explorers and colonists in the late 18th century...
, drought tolerant water conserving, and habitat gardens; and various types of municipal, commercial, and agency sustainable landscape
Sustainable landscaping
Sustainable landscaping encompasses a variety of practices that have developed in response to environmental issues. These practices are used in every phase of landscaping, including design, construction, implementation and management of residential and commercial landscapes. Issues of...
and restoration projects.
See also
- Philadelphus × lemoineiPhiladelphus × lemoineiPhiladelphus x lemoinei is a shrub in the genus Philadelphus. In 1884, Victor Lemoine crossed Philadelphus microphyllus with Philadelphus coronarius and produced this hybrid plant which he named P. Lemoinei.-References:...
(an hybrid obtained crossing P. microphyllus and P. coronariusPhiladelphus coronariusPhiladelphus coronarius L. is a species of deciduous shrubs in the genus Philadelphus, native to Southern Europe.-Cultivation:...
)