Blooming problems with a Mock Orange shrub

Credit: Daryl Mitchell

Q: I have a snowbelle mock orange that is two- years-old and it has never bloomed.

What can I do to get it to bloom?

“Snowbelle Mock Orange” (Philadelphus ‘Snowbelle’) blooms best in full sun, but not overly rich soil. The plant will usually produce stems the first year, but these won’t usually flower until the following season. The plant may require some time to settle in and reach maturity.

When pruning mock orange, remove (or thin out) only a third of the stems that has flowered the current season and which are close to the ground. Try to refrain from shortening any of the remaining stems because it may impact the flowers the following year.

Prune Philadelphus to retain its natural shape.