Plant Profile: Choisya ternata

The Mexican Orange is a shrub native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, thriving in regions with mild winters and full to partial sunlight, while also requiring some shelter from the intense afternoon heat. In areas that fall north of USDA hardiness zone 7, it can be cultivated in containers and brought indoors when temperatures dip below 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

This shrub is celebrated for its aromatic, attractive foliage and its striking white flowers that bloom in the summer. Typically, it reaches a height and width of 4 to 8 feet, making it suitable for use as a hedge or for creating privacy screens. It flourishes best in rich, moist, well-drained soil and benefits from pruning after flowering, which may encourage additional blooms. Once established, it shows moderate resilience to short periods of drought.