Syringa (Mockorange) - Philadelphus lewisii

A loosely branched medium to tall shrub 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet) tall; bark is brown with older stems showing a characteristic cross-checked pattern and eventually flaking off; leaves are opposite, deciduous, simple with a few to many rounded teeth on edges, light green, smooth to stiffly hairy with 3 major veins from base; flowers are numerous, very sweetly-scented, white, in terminal racemes on lateral branches; fruit is a nearly round capsule. Habitat is mostly in foothills and montane zone in ponderosa pine and Douglas fir forests, and in dry, rocky, moist streamside areas. Fruit is collected in late summer and is processed by gentle crushing of the dried capsules and then using wind from a clipper or similar machine to separate the seed from the chaff, cold stratify the seed for 8 weeks at 5°C (41°F) prior to sowing.

Greenhouse asexual propagation is by softwood and hardwood stem cuttings, softwood cuttings are taken in June and July, treated with 1,000 parts per million IBA, and stuck in a 1:1, peat:perlite media, under mist. Dormant hardwood cuttings are collected in late fall to early spring. They are treated with 2,500 to 8,000 parts per million IBA, stuck in a sandy mix, under mist. Fall plantings should be mulched. Transplant at one to two years of age.

Field propagation by dormant unrooted hardwood cuttings is moderately successful. Moisture is the key to success.

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Last Modified: 07/05/2007