mock orange

noun

1

: any of a genus (Philadelphus) of ornamental shrubs of which several are widely grown for their showy white flowers and that is either placed in the saxifrage or hydrangea families or in a family (Philadelphaceae) of its own

called also philadelphus, syringa

2

: any of several usually shrubby plants considered to resemble the orange

Examples of mock orange in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Swan Lake mock orange is a rounded shrub from Monrovia that produces mounds of white blooms that smell like grape soda. —Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2024

For winter application, Osofsky suggests homing in on white flowers like hellebores or mock orange, paired with the silver foliage of artemisia and lavender. —Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 21 Dec. 2023

Both of these shrubs, nine-bark and mock orange, can occasionally be pruned nearly to the ground as a rejuvenation strategy. —oregonlive, 16 Sep. 2023

The 264-page guide offers details on how to manage inevitable fire by designing gardens and wildlife habitats as a defensive space with the careful placement of native plants. instead of invasive butterfly bush, the authors recommend planting mock orange, red-flowering currant or blue elderberry. —Jeastman, oregonlive, 11 Sep. 2023

Also, when is the best time of year to prune mock orange. —oregonlive, 16 Apr. 2023

Not every species of mock orange has the same strong fragrance, though, so be sure to do a little research before heading to the garden center. —Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2023

Take, for example, the fact that there were no thrips covering mock orange, Philadelphus coronarius, this year. —Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, 7 July 2022

There are several cultivars of mock orange there days. —Jeff Lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, 7 July 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1731, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

mock orange

noun

: any of several shrubs widely grown for their showy white flowers