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Best philadelphus for scent, vigour and wildlife?

wisehedgecronewisehedgecrone Posts: 118
in Plants
Are all the varieties strongly fragrant? Which is the best? I want one for dappled shade. Any suggestions please?
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  • chickychicky Posts: 10,410
    edited June 2018
    Mine is very fragrant - fills the whole garden.  Its a double flowered one, that I think is called Virginal (although I have it from cuttings from one in a previous garden, which was there when we moved in, so I am not 100% sure of the variety).  It takes very easily from cuttings and grows very quickly, so if you can find one you like the smell of you might be able to beg/borrow a shoot or two  ;)
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    For wildlife it is better to get the single flowered variety - Belle Etoile - as pollinating insects can have easy access to the flowers but the double flowered one, as chicky says, smells divine.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • wisehedgecronewisehedgecrone Posts: 118
    Is Belle Etoile as fragrant as Virginal though? I'd like plants which do double duty....
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    I have Belle etoile I find it extremely fragrant. Any tips on propagation gratefully received! 
  • wisehedgecronewisehedgecrone Posts: 118
    I'm not good on that - too impatient anyway; once I want a plant, it has to be right now! Visited Sissinghurst yesterday where the philadelphus smelled divine - that's what inspired me. Could have snuck a cutting from there, but of course I wouldn't do that!!

  • wisehedgecronewisehedgecrone Posts: 118
    And thanks, debs64 - Good to know Belle Etoile smells very fragrant. How large does it get?

  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    Mine is in a pot but the one in my sisters garden is about 5 foot high and wide. Covered in flowers and smells fantastic! My daughter just bought her first house I will be buying her a Belle Etoile for her garden as I think they cannot be beaten for fragrance and the bees love them. 
  • JellyfireJellyfire Posts: 1,139
    I’ve got a mature belle etoille, it’s in complete dry shade these days as it’s under a large ash. It’s in dire need of pruning but nonetheless is full of flowers at the moment and makes the entire garden smell divine 
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    edited June 2018
    'Beauclerk' is the only one I would grow as it's compact, a good bloomer and has all the scent - if, like me, you don't need a shrub that grows too big..
    oh I've just noticed you want one for vigour and wildlife, so this may not be for you..
    East Anglia, England
  • wisehedgecronewisehedgecrone Posts: 118
    Oh dear, now I'm in a quandary (lol), Marlonena! I'll check both of them out. However, mine needs to be vigorous to compete with surrounding thugs as it'll be in a semi-shaded, fairly wild area of the garden. Wonder if I have room for both???
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