How to plant and grow Choisya

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Choisya, often called Mexican orange blossom or Mexican mock orange, is a versatile evergreen tree best known for its fragrant white flowers, glossy green foliage, and ability to thrive in a variety of garden locations. It is part of the Rutaceae family and is native to Mexico, making it well suited to warmer climates, although it can tolerate colder temperatures as well.

Its versatility and evergreen nature make Choisya a practical yet stylish choice for a variety of garden designs. Growing Choisya (Mexican orange flower) is easy, as it is a hardy, low-maintenance tree.

Select Key Features

• Leaves: Choisya has bright, glossy, green, or yellow (depending on variety) trifoliate leaves, which remain bright throughout the year.
• Flowers: In the spring (and often also in the fall), it produces clusters of star-shaped white flowers, which smell like orange blossoms. The flowers have a sweet orange scent.
• The size: Choisya can grow up to 6-8 feet tall and spread, although some smaller varieties remain smaller.
• Growth Practice: It has a round shape, with thick, attractive leaves, which makes it suitable as a feature or screening tree.

How to use Choisya in the garden

1. Decoration and inspection: Choisya is perfect for hedges or privacy screens because of its sturdy, evergreen foliage. Can be circumcised to maintain legal status.
2. Borders and Flower Beds: Can act as a wonderful background in mixed borders, especially when planted next to other flowering plants. Their green leaves provide contrast, while their flowers add seasonal interest.
3. Planting a Container: Mixed species can be grown in pots for balconies or small spaces, providing year-round color and fragrance.
4. Cottage or Mediterranean Gardens: Its soft, citrus scent and delicate flowers make it perfect for cottage-style or Mediterranean-themed gardens where it can blend with lavender, rosemary, and other aromatic plants.
5. Attracting Pollinators: Fragrant flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, making them a great addition to wildlife-friendly gardens.
6. Low Spacing: Choisya is drought tolerant once established, requires little care and thrives in sunny to partially shaded areas. It goes well with poorly maintained areas.

Choisya Companion Plants

• Lavender again Rosemary (with a Mediterranean feel)
• Hostels again Ferns (in shaded borders)
• Roses or Clematis (filling white flowers)

Where to Plant Choisya

• The light: Choisya prefers full sun to partial shade. In hot climates, some afternoon shade can prevent leaf scorch, but it will tolerate more shade, although flowering may be reduced.
• The ground: Choisya thrives in well-drained soil, but can tolerate a range of soil types, including sandy, silty or clay soils. Make sure the soil is not waterlogged, because that can cause root rot.
• Space: Allow space for it to grow to its mature size. For smaller gardens, consider smaller varieties such as Choisya ‘Aztec Pearl’.

Planting Choisya

• Time: The best time to plant Choisya is in spring or autumn, when the weather is mild, which gives the tree time to establish before extreme heat or cold.
• Digging a Hole: Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and about the same depth.
• Planting: Place the plant in the hole so that the surface of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil. Fill with soil and firm it gently.
• Watering: Water well after planting to moisten the soil around the roots.

Caring for Choisya

• Watering: Water regularly during the early growing season to help establish a deep root system. Once established, Choisya is drought tolerant and only needs occasional watering during long dry spells.
• Covering with holes: Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch (such as compost or bark chips) around the base of the plant to help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. Keep the mulch a few inches away from the stems.
• Fertilization: Choisya generally does not need much fertilizer. However, if your soil is poor, you can feed it with a balanced fertilizer that is released slowly in the spring.

Pruning Choose

• Time: Prune Choisya after flowering, usually in late spring or early summer, to encourage new growth and a second cycle of flowering in autumn.
• The way: Remove dead or damaged branches and cut the plant lightly to preserve its shape. Choisya responds well to pruning and can be severely pruned if necessary to rejuvenate an overgrown plant.

Choisya Pests and Diseases

• Insects: Choisya is generally pest resistant, but keep an eye out for aphids or spider mites, especially in hot, dry conditions. Spray with insecticidal soap if necessary.
• Diseases: This plant is resistant to many diseases but can suffer from root rot in poorly drained soil. To prevent this, make sure the plant is in well-lit soil and avoid overwatering.

Overwintering Choose

• Choisya is frost hardy in most areas, but if you live in an area with severe winters, cover the plant’s roots in late fall to protect the roots. For extra protection, cover the shrub with horticultural wool during very cold weather.

Choose Distribution

• From Cuttings: Choisya can be propagated by semi-hardwood cuttings taken in summer. Cut a healthy, non-flowering shoot about 4-6 inches long, dip the cut end in rooting hormone, and plant it in a pot of well-digested compost. Keep it moist and in a sheltered place until the roots form.

With its fragrant flowers, evergreen leaves, and low-maintenance nature, Choisya can be a rewarding tree for a variety of garden settings.