Sweet Mock-orange

Philadelphus coronarius

Found in cultivated (though more so in the past than now), and sometimes escaped or persisting around old homesites. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), South Central edition What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

Not native to Alabama. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height: 10–12 feet
Spread: 8–10 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Dry to moist

See native alternatives

Philadelphus coronarius — flower photograph — (c) Martin Scheuch, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original photograph

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At a glance

Life cycle: Woody perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: May to July
Fruiting season: Summer

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Recorded in 6 Alabama counties.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

4CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AL

Genus host records with ranges including AL · Philadelphus

Cenopis diluticostanaSpring Dead-Leaf Roller Moth, Oak Cenopis
Euchlaena johnsonariaJohnson's Euchlaena
Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
Metarranthis duariaRuddy Metarranthis

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Hydrangeaceae
Hardiness: Zones 4a–8b
Flower color: White
Growth rate: Moderate
Growth habit: Several stems
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: Summer
Fruit ends: Summer

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “May to July” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “White” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Several stems” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Moderate” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 4a–8b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “10–12 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
primary_flower_color · “white” · USDA PLANTS
Soil · “Dry; Moist (documented habitat)” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Spread · “8–10 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

European Mock Orange; Sweet Mock Orange

Conservation status

Alabama rank	Not available
Global rank	GNR
AL status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source