It looks as though it needs a feed from the lack of colour in the leaves. Also looks a bit congested, maybe it's too big for its boots, could do with some thinning.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
I forgot to mention it is in sunny position and I have chalky soil. @Busy-Lizzie I think the photo is deceiving, as although it looks big it doesn't have lots of woody stems down below it just has a lot of very tall new stems with whispy foliage up top. I was thinking it might be lack of nutrients, any ideas what to feed it with? and is it ok to do it now? thanks @theluciblack apologies for hijack
@theluciblack. I agree with @Busy-Lizzie ... there should be no reason to prune a two year old philadelphus.
There are three main reasons for pruning anything ...
1. To promote the production of flowering/fruiting shoots on an established plant.
2. To restrict the growth of the plant to an allotted space.
3. To correct irregular or congested growth, or to renovate an old plant.
Some people seem to think that you have to prune plants ... you don’t.
At two years old your shrub is still a baby and not yet an established shrub ... unless any of the above apply there’s no need to prune it.
If it’s not been fed this year give it some Fish, Blood & Bone feed and mulch the area around it with soil conditioner/well rotted manure/homemade garden compost or similar and leave it to grow.
😊
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I think racine's is a different variety. It looks like it could be Manteau d'hermine, which is a much smaller, bushier variety with small double flowers,and brighter foliage. I just tip back the flowering stems a little after flowering, and cut back ones which are in the wrong place. Lovely when they get going
I don’t know which one mine was, it had single flowers but very strong perfume, OH wouldn’t go near it😀 All I did was cut any out of place branched off immediately after flowering. It was probably about 10’ or bit more when this was taken.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Has it flowered,Meomye? There are lots of quite similar varieties, but some are single flowers - like Lyn's - and some are double. Other than that - there isn't a huge difference between them, and cultivation is the same. Belle Etoile is one of the most widely grown - single flowers with a dark purply blush in the centre. Virginal is a double. They both get to around five or six feet.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Fairygirl Not flowered so far and to be honest it hardly ever does anything! Pic2 shows a few buds. In all the time I have had it it has never done much.
Good morning @Meomye ... sorry, got distracted yesterday ... there is a Phil ‘aurea’ which has lighter foliage, but that has a real golden hue which I don’t see on yours, although that may be due to the light conditions when taking the photo.
I’d give it a good feed with Fish, Blood & Bone now and maybe a bit more in August, watering in well, and some Clematis feed next spring. I find that can often give all sorts of reluctant shrubs a bit of a boost.
But if you still don’t get a decent display of deliciously scented blooms next year I’d dig it out, replenish the soil and get a new one ... Lemoinei is one of my favourites ... very free flowering and a wonderful scent.
Posts
@theluciblack apologies for hijack
There are three main reasons for pruning anything ...
1. To promote the production of flowering/fruiting shoots on an established plant.
2. To restrict the growth of the plant to an allotted space.
3. To correct irregular or congested growth, or to renovate an old plant.
Some people seem to think that you have to prune plants ... you don’t.
At two years old your shrub is still a baby and not yet an established shrub ... unless any of the above apply there’s no need to prune it.
If it’s not been fed this year give it some Fish, Blood & Bone feed
and mulch the area around it with soil conditioner/well rotted manure/homemade garden compost or similar and leave it to grow.
😊
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I wish I could remember 😊
i think it was either Manteau or Belle Etoile.
All I did was cut any out of place branched off immediately after flowering.
It was probably about 10’ or bit more when this was taken.
Other than that - there isn't a huge difference between them, and cultivation is the same. Belle Etoile is one of the most widely grown - single flowers with a dark purply blush in the centre. Virginal is a double. They both get to around five or six feet.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I’d give it a good feed with Fish, Blood & Bone now and maybe a bit more in August, watering in well, and some Clematis feed next spring. I find that can often give all sorts of reluctant shrubs a bit of a boost.
But if you still don’t get a decent display of deliciously scented blooms next year I’d dig it out, replenish the soil and get a new one ... Lemoinei is one of my favourites ... very free flowering and a wonderful scent.
https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/plants.cfm?pl_id=3183&fromplants=pl%5Fid%3D3178
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.