Choisya x dewitteana ‘Aztec Pearl’
(CHOY-zee-ah duh-wit-ee-AY-nuh)
Family: Rutaceae

Common name: Mexican mock orange;
Mexican orange blossom
Zone: 7 – 10
Height: 8 ft (2.5m) Spread: 8 ft (2.5m)
Aspect: full sun; partial shade
Soil: fertile; well-draining
Water: regular

Description: An evergreen, dense, rounded shrub. Aromatic, glossy, bright yellow-green leaves made up of three oblong leaflets. Clusters of fragrant, star-shaped, creamy white flowers appear in late spring. There may be a second flowering in autumn.

Special Notes: A cross between Choisya ternata and Choisya dumosa var. arizonica bred by Peter Moore of Hilliers Nurseries in 1982. This cultivar was the first hybrid in the genus and named for the French nurseryman, Dominique de Witte. Needs protection in Zone 7. Will tolerate seaside conditions but not direct exposure to salty winds. Prune into shape after flowering. Leaves will be more golden yellow if grown in full sun. Propagate by softwood cuttings in late spring; hardwood cuttings in autumn.

RHS Award of Garden Merit 1993

Updated on January 17, 2013