PHILADELPHUS. Mock orange. North America, Asia, Europe. A large group of flowering shrubs, much better appreciated in other parts of the world than here in California. With the recent revival of interest in the flowering shrubs, it seems only fitting that the fine array of selections already available elsewhere should be revisited here. Most have attractive pale bark, arching branches, and paired, pointed-oval leaves. They are decorated in late spring and summer by clusters of white, usually sweetly fragrant, 4- to 5-petalled blossoms with dense central brushes of stamens. Sun, most soils, moderate to regular watering, depending on the species. Hardiness varies.

lewisii. Northern California. We offer two selections of this showy native shrub. Both are large and closely branched, with arching trunks reaching 8', the bark light brown turning to grey. The 3" leaves are conspicuously toothed, pointed-oval in shape and light green in color. For several weeks in summer the plants are decorated by showers of fragrant pure white blossoms with central brushes of yellow stamens. Those of our own selection, `Covelo’, are single and up to 2" broad. Those of `Goose Creek’, selected by Ray Collett, are 1½" broad and fully double. Sun, most soils, moderate to little watering when established. Hardy to 0^oF or below.

microphyllus ‘Desert Snow’. California and the Southwest. P. microphyllus is one of the smaller mock-oranges, usually 3-6' tall and broader than tall. It has rather small, narrow, dark green to greyish green leaves, paler beneath. The flowers are pure white and up to 1" broad. Their fragrance varies considerably. In this cultivar, reselected from a group of seedlings kindly given to me for trial, it suggests a mixture of grape and cinnamon candies. Hardy to 0-10^oF.