Native Garden Plant Factsheets

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Mock Orange

English Name(s): Mock Orange, also Mockorange, Mock-Orange, Lewis' / Gordon's / Wild / Western / Pacific / California / Idaho Mock Orange, Indian Arrowwood, & Syringa
Scientific Name: Philadelphus lewisii
SENĆOŦEN Name: name unknown
lək̓ʷəŋən Name: name unknown

Fun Facts:
This plant can grow up to 3m tall, and has brown bark that eventually flakes off. Its light green, egg shaped leaves are 3-5 cm in length and have 3 major veins coming from short stalks. Its white flowers are prized for their fragrance, most often with 4 broad petals in clusters of up to 15 at the end of branches. The fruit is described as woody, the capsules being small (1cm) and having 4 chambers.

The genus Philadelphus is named after Pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus, meaning "brotherly love".

Traditional Uses:
The wood of this plant is hard and strong, and will not warp or crack if prepared properly. As such, many indigenous peoples used it to create tools and utensils, among which include bows, arrow & harpoon shafts, combs, pipes, snowshoes, knitting needles, & netting shuttles. Additionally, the flowers and leaves were foamed to create a cleansing lather.

Blooms: May to July
Season: August to September
Habitat: Varied habitats ranging from moist streamsides, open woodlands, and forest edges to dry pine forests, rocky hillsides, and sagebrush deserts
Range: Low to Middle elevations regions from Coastal British Columbia to Central California and inland towards Montana and Idaho

Further Sources:

• http://nativeplantspnw.com/lewis-mock-orange-philadelphus-lewisii/

• Saanich Ethnobotany by Nancy J. Turner & Richard J. Hebda

• Plants of Coastal British Columbia by Jim Pojar & Andy MacKinnon