How to Grow and Care for Mexican Orange Plant

The palm-shaped leaves have three leaflets, and they produce a pleasant scent when crushed.

Mexican orange is typically planted as a container-grown nursery plant in spring or fall.

Mexican Orange Care

This shrub usually does well in any sunny location with fertile, well-draining soil.

In regions with some winter frost, plant it in an area that is sheltered from harsh winter winds.

Plant it in well-loosened soil at the same height it was growing in the nursery container.

Mix in some fertilizer to the bottom of the planting hole to stimulate good root growth.

Water well upon planting, then water at least weekly for the first few months.

In winter, reduce watering.

Shadier conditions will result in fewer flowers.

This plant performs best in soil that is fertile and humusy, well-draining and slightly acidic.

But it will not mind neutral or even slightly alkaline soils.

Once established, watering deeply but less frequently.

Spreading alayer of mulchwill help retain soil moisture in summer.

However, reliable flowering requires an environment that never falls below 27 degrees.

Ideal winter temperatures are 40 to 50 degrees.

Fertilize in the springwith compost or well-rotted manure.

In warmer climates, an extra fall fertilizer feeding is recommended.

Some gardeners choose to prune the plant back after flowering to achieve a more formal appearance.

If you want to try it, sow the tiny seeds from the fruits very shallow in seeding flats.

Keep the seedling flats moist in bright greenhouse conditions (but out of direct sunlight) until they sprout.

When large enough to handle, the seedlings can be transplanted into individual pots filled with potting mix.

Standard commercial potting mix works fine for container-grown shrubs.

Mixing in some sand can help with drainage.

This is a fast-growing shrub, so repotting will be necessary every few years.

When grown in pots, this species might be attacked byPythiumroot rot, but is otherwise disease-free.

Mexican orange grown in containers will need more frequent watering and feeding than garden-grown plants.

These shrubs require almost no extra care for winter other than offering a fall fertilizer feeding.

Move potted plants to a spot that is sheltered from harsh, cold winds.

If you live in a cold-winter zone, move your potted plant indoors to a sunny location.

Its tolerance for pruning makes it equally useful as a hedge or foundation shrub.

In mixed gardens, it is a good companion plant forCalifornia lilac,geranium,iris, andshasta daisy.

The glossy green foliage and cut flowers are often harvested for use in floral arrangements.

This requires ideal growing conditions, however.

Mexican orange is extremely attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators when it is in bloom.

And fortunately, it is fairly resistant to damage from deer, rabbits, and other browsers.