Choisya x dewitteana ‘Aztec Pearl’
Common name: Mexican orange
Choisya x dewitteana ‘Aztec Pearl’ is an evergreen shrub with aromatic leaves divided into three to five narrow leaflets. Its buds are pink-flushed and open to fragrant white flowers. These flowers have an orange scent and bloom twice - in late spring and again in late summer. In the Pacific Northwest this shrub can grow to 2 m/6 ft high and 1 m/3 ft wide.
‘Aztec Pearl’ is easy to grow. A no fuss plant. And that is thanks to the aromatic glands on its leaves and stems. More information
Choisya x dewitteana ‘Aztec Pearl’ is a hybrid between the Arizona orange (Choisya arizonica) and Mexican orange (Choisya ternata). The cross was made by England’s Peter Moore of Longstock Park Nursery.
The flower photos are from Oregon State Dept. of Agriculture site. The pictures of ‘Aztec Pearl’ were taken in the Fragrance Garden in VanDusen. It was mid-February and the buds were already forming at the leaf axils.
Text and Garden photos by Hughie Jones
Flower photos from University of Oregon Dept. of Agriculture site