I am a little late with this post whose protagonist is Philadelphus, an unusual flowering specimen. The last flowers have just faded away although in Scotland the first buds are ready to open. Philadelphus - a perfect combination of snow white colour of gracefully shaped petals and captivating perfume lets no-one indifferent. Even those who do not usually notice flowering shrubs will definitely smell the alluring inimitable aroma. The common name of the shrub tries to find a noble comparison between orange blossoms and that of Philadelphus. In a way this trial is justified but only to some extend: the strength. But the characteristic undertones of the mock orange aroma seem to be more refined and subtle, just like architecture of the flowers which very often goes totally unnoticed. But it does deserve a closer inspection. Let not the fragrant essential oil make you blind to the design of the mock orange flowers.
Why is the structure of mock orange flowers so important? Because not all of them, I mean the flowers of the cultivated species and their cultivars are so fragrant. Unfortunately some of them totally lack that powerful tool of attracting our noses; the only way they can seduce us is their flowers.
Simple flowers of the most common cultivars have four of five white petals and a lot of yellow stamens in the center. In other cultivars part of the stamens have transformed into petals, not fully shaped though. You can still see pollen containing yellow anthers on structures which are neither thin filaments but nor mature petals. The last group of the cultivars contains so called double flowers. They resemble miniature camellias or roses but even they can still show yellow dots, witnesses of the breeding processes which turned the stamens into petals. Unfortunately the cost of the transformation may be high and the distinctive scent is very weak or lost. Luckily, not always.
A lot of us feel that mock orange flavour must have something in common with jasmine, a tropical plant grown for a very potent bouquet of its flowers. The answer is: nothing. Nonetheless, it does not stop people from confusing the two species. Let me assure you, it is utterly harmless as long as the senses get crazy with what they see and smell. It only matters when you want to cultivate either one. Mock orange plants grow in the temperate climatic conditions without any problems but real jasmine requires warmer areas or greenhouses. Before you buy or build a greenhouse try a mock orange shrub and get ready for a sensual transformation provoked by the beauty of its fragrant or unscented flowers. They always do their job!
Simple flowers of the most common cultivars have four of five white petals and a lot of yellow stamens in the center. In other cultivars part of the stamens have transformed into petals, not fully shaped though. You can still see pollen containing yellow anthers on structures which are neither thin filaments but nor mature petals. The last group of the cultivars contains so called double flowers. They resemble miniature camellias or roses but even they can still show yellow dots, witnesses of the breeding processes which turned the stamens into petals. Unfortunately the cost of the transformation may be high and the distinctive scent is very weak or lost. Luckily, not always.
A lot of us feel that mock orange flavour must have something in common with jasmine, a tropical plant grown for a very potent bouquet of its flowers. The answer is: nothing. Nonetheless, it does not stop people from confusing the two species. Let me assure you, it is utterly harmless as long as the senses get crazy with what they see and smell. It only matters when you want to cultivate either one. Mock orange plants grow in the temperate climatic conditions without any problems but real jasmine requires warmer areas or greenhouses. Before you buy or build a greenhouse try a mock orange shrub and get ready for a sensual transformation provoked by the beauty of its fragrant or unscented flowers. They always do their job!
Jarek
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