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Philadelphus mock orange refusing to flower

bigpaparinibigpaparini Posts: 34
in Problem solving
I planted my Philadelphia two seasons ago and it just refuses to flower. It looks healthy enough and is nice and green and bushy but I’m frustrated it won’t flower. Anyone ideas what I’m doing wrong? Thanks in advance 

Posts

  • AuntyRachAuntyRach Posts: 5,291
    It looks healthy. The two things I know about them is 1. they like a sunny spot and 2. they flower on the growth put out in Summer (after flowering) so don’t prune the new growth. 
    I don’t know if they take a while to establish - I expect somebody will know more. 
    Hopefully you will have blooms next year - it’s a good choice as it smells amazing. 
    My garden and I live in South Wales. 
  • bigpaparinibigpaparini Posts: 34
    Thanks Rach. It’s actually my mums plant and she is a tad impatient lol
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    It does look very healthy but for two seasons, it is quite small and very bushy. I don't want to insult you, but are you sure it is Philadelphus? AuntyRach is right. If you pruned it in the Spring it won't flower but otherwise it's a mystery. Give it another year and see how it does.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    It looks like it got pruned this year to a nice tidy mound. As Philadelphus flower on last years wood, that will flower next year if you leave it alone.  Prune out flowered wood immediately after flowering, but with a newish plant you can leave it for two or three years to establish a framework. If you want plants to cut down the the ground every year in spring , then a Buddelja davidii cultivar is ideal.
  • bigpaparinibigpaparini Posts: 34
    Thanks everyone. My mum bought it from crocus and she’s saying she hasn’t touched it. Lol I’v encouraged her to just leave it as she’s itching to move it and we’ll see what happens next year. As always thanks again for the advice . 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It looks like it could be the smaller variety - Manteau d'Hermine. They can take a little while to settle in and flower properly in my experience. They do best in moister soil and semi shade - like most Philadelphus. 
    Lovely when they do perform 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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