Mock Orange
Philadelphus lewisii
ooksina'pi(Blackfoot)
Alberta's most fragrant native shrub — fills June evenings with an intoxicating orange-blossom scent. Named for explorer Meriwether Lewis. Its hard straight stems were the premier material for Indigenous arrows, and were also carved into combs, pipe stems, and knitting needles. A deciduous arching shrub reaching 2–3 m tall.
Quick Facts
Distribution
Foothills, SW Alberta, Zone 4
Light
Full sun to part shade
Bloom Time
June–July
Soil
Average well-drained; tolerates drought and a wide pH range
Water
Moderate; drought-tolerant once established
Growing & Cultivation
Propagation
Softwood cuttings in early summer root readily under mist or humidity dome. Semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer also work. Seed requires 60–90 days cold moist stratification. Layering of low branches is another reliable option.
Pruning / Splitting
Prune right after bloom — flowers on previous season's wood
