Philadelphus 'Virginal'
Overview
Philadelphus 'Virginal' is a deciduous shrub renowned for its spectacular display of fragrant, pure white flowers that bloom in early summer. This classic English garden favourite belongs to the mock orange family and is prized for its intense, sweet fragrance that can perfume an entire garden. The variety 'Virginal' is particularly valued for its double flowers and vigorous growth habit, making it an excellent choice for both novice and experienced gardeners.
Key Features
Flowers: Semi-double to double, creamy-white blooms measuring 4-5cm across, produced in dense clusters. The flowers have a distinctive orange blossom fragrance that is strongest in the evening.
Foliage: Mid-green, oval-shaped leaves that provide an attractive backdrop to the flowers. The foliage turns yellow in autumn before dropping.
Growth Habit: Upright, arching shrub with a graceful, fountain-like shape. Mature specimens develop attractive peeling bark that adds winter interest.
Height & Spread: Typically reaches 2.0-2.5 metres in height with a similar spread, though can grow larger in ideal conditions.
Growing Conditions
Soil: Thrives in well-drained, fertile soil but is remarkably adaptable to most soil types, including chalk and clay. Prefers neutral to slightly alkaline conditions.
Position: Performs best in full sun to partial shade. Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal in hotter regions.
Hardiness: Fully hardy in the UK (RHS H6), tolerating temperatures down to -20°C.
Water Requirements: Moderate water needs once established. Benefits from regular watering during dry spells, particularly when young.
Planting & Care
When to Plant: Best planted between October and March when dormant, avoiding periods of hard frost.
Spacing: Allow 2-3 metres between plants for hedging, or plant as a specimen with adequate space to display its natural form.
Pruning: Prune immediately after flowering by cutting back flowered shoots to strong buds or new growth. Remove up to one-third of the oldest stems annually to encourage vigorous new growth.
Feeding: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertiliser in spring. A mulch of well-rotted compost around the base will improve soil structure and retain moisture.
Garden Uses
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Specimen Plant: Perfect as a focal point in mixed borders or cottage garden schemes
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Hedge or Screen: Creates an attractive, fragrant boundary when planted in groups
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Wildlife Garden: Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects
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Cut Flowers: Stems can be cut for indoor arrangements, filling rooms with fragrance
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Woodland Gardens: Naturalises well in informal, woodland-style plantings
Companion Plants
Pairs beautifully with roses, particularly climbing varieties, as well as lavender, catmint, and perennial geraniums. Early-flowering clematis varieties complement the mock orange's summer blooming period perfectly.
Seasonal Interest
Spring: Fresh green foliage emerges Early Summer: Peak flowering period with maximum fragrance Autumn: Pleasant yellow leaf colour Winter: Architectural bare stems with interesting bark texture
Varieties & Alternatives
Other excellent Philadelphus varieties include 'Belle Étoile' (single flowers with purple centres), 'Manteau d'Hermine' (compact with double flowers), and 'Snowbelle' (very fragrant, pure white blooms).
Perfect for gardeners seeking: A low-maintenance, highly fragrant shrub that provides reliable summer colour and attracts beneficial wildlife to the garden.
Buying Shrubs from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we sell a variety of shrubs both evergreen and deciduous with a variety of flowering times throughout the year. At certain times of the year our shrubs you buy from us may not look like the images shown on our website when deciduous leaves have fallen, the shrub has finished flowering or has been trimmed back.
Some leaves on evergreen shrubs can be damaged in winter by frost or harsh winds but in spring new leaves will readily replace those damaged. This is quite normal on many evergreen varieties and is preferable to plants grown with excessive protection that show cold shock once planted out and establish less satisfactory initially.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
* Please Note: Shrubs in 20 litre pots and above might require a pallet delivery starting at £79.99 per pallet. Depending on the exact pot size and height it may be possible to get approximately 5 plants per pallet at no extra cost. The maximum height we can dispatch on a pallet is 2.0m, this includes the height of the pallet and pot.
Shrubs are deciduous or evergreen woody plants, and often provide fragrant flowers, berries and foliage. They are good for structural framework, and they can provide a wonderful shelter and food source for wildlife.
Planting and Conditions
Container grown shrubs can be grown at any time of year. It is a little known fact that shrubs planted in the autumn and winter will be easier to look after than those planted in the spring and summer, because they will have time to establish and become hardy in the cooler months.
Plant the shrub at the same depth as it was in its original pot. Planting too deeply can result in root and stem rot.
One of the biggest causes of death in new shrubs is drought stress, so keep it well watered until it’s established.
Make sure you loosen the soil prior to planting. Most shrubs are tolerant of most soil types as long as it is fairly well draining.
Most shrubs will grow happily in containers, but they will be much more demanding on feeding and watering than shrubs in the ground would be. They will also need potting on every couple of years so that they don’t suffocate or become stunted in their pot.
Aftercare and Pruning
Once established, shrubs generally do not require much water. However, at first they need careful, frequent watering and should not be left to dry out.
Shrubs in the ground are generally not demanding and in most cases, annual feeding with general purpose fertilizer will suffice. Shrubs in containers may need more feeding; usually from early spring until late summer.
Shrubs also benefit from mulching in order to supress weeds, conserve moisture and provide vital nutrients. Mulch also greatly improves soil conditions. Shrubs can be mulched in late winter, after fertiliser has been applied, but it can be mulched through autumn to late spring as long as the ground is damp.
All shrubs benefit from dead-heading once spent flowers become apparent. Rhododendrons and Lilac especially benefit from the removal of dead flowers.
Some shrubs may show signs of reverted growth or ‘sporting’. This is where random shoots of different leaves associated with the plant’s parentage begin to appear. Most commonly this is where plants with variegated leaves sprout pure green growths instead of variegated ones.
To control reversion, remove reverted shoots promptly to discourage them. Reverted shoots are usually much more vigorous than the variegated ones, and thus should be completely pruned out and cut back into wood containing variegated foliage.
Potential Issues
Although shrubs are usually very robust garden plants, they can sometimes start to decline with no apparent or obvious reason.
This will start with browning leaves, which could indicate plant stress due to lack of water or waterlogging, an establishment failure or, in the worst case scenario, honey fungus. Another cause of leaf browning is a high salt content in the soil. This could be a natural occurrence, especially if you live near the ocean, or it could be from over fertilisation.
To remedy a high salt content, cut back on fertiliser and step up your watering regime for the next few weeks. If you live by the ocean, this will be harder to remedy—but stepping up your watering will help to wash some of the salt away all the same.
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