The Dawes Arboretum

Common name: Lewis mock orange

Family: Hydrangeaceae (hydrangea family)

Synonym: Philadelphus gordonianus

Distribution: n.w. North America

Habitat: Cliffs, rock outcrops, slopes in pine woodlands and forests, stream banks, talus, seasonally dry ravines; 0–2500 m

Hardiness: USDA Zone 3

Life form: Deciduous shrub/Subshrub

Comments: Lewis mock orange is a deciduous shrub that grows 4-12 ft. tall and 3-9 ft. wide. White flowers bloom in clusters in May - June with a heavy, sweet scent similar to orange blossoms with a hint of pineapple. This plant was named for Meriwether Lewis who first collected it in the 1800s. It is the state flower of Idaho. Native American tribes used it for numerous purposes. The hard wood was useful for making various tools and furniture. The leaves and bark were used to create a mild soap; flowers were used for perfumes and teas. Mock-orange is also an important food plant for the larvae of some butterflies and moths. When grown in the garden, this plant is best used in a shrubbery border or as an informal hedge.