Choisya Growing Guide

Choisya ternata, Choisya dewitteana hybrids

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous ●

Soil

Moist, well-drained soil enriched with plenty of compost or other organic matter.

Position

Partial shade.

Frost tolerant

Cold tolerance is limited. Choisyas often are injured by winter temperatures below 5°F (-15°C).

Feeding

In early spring, cover the root zone with rich compost topped by a layer of organic mulch.

Spacing

Single Plants: 6' 6" (2.00m) each way (minimum)
Rows: 6' 6" (2.00m) with 6' 6" (2.00m) row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Set out purchased plants in spring at about the time of your last frost. Water regularly, and cover the root zone with an organic mulch to keep the soil moist until the plants are well rooted. Spacing requirements vary according to the type grown. Heights range from 4 to 8 feet (1.2 to 2.4 m). Check plant tags for a plant’s mature width and height when combining choisya with other shrubs. In areas where choisya is not winter hardy, it can be grown in a container that is brought indoors in winter, or kept in a cool greenhouse.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Native to the American southwest and Mexico, choisya is a beautiful evergreen shrub that produces orange-scented flowers in early summer. It can be pruned to work in a hedge, or the plants can be allowed to grow into their own symmetrical shapes. Prune in late summer to remove dead or damaged wood or to control plant size. Trimming off spent flower clusters can encourage light reblooming. To propagate choisya, root non-blooming stem tips in moist potting soil in summer, after blooming has subsided.

Harvesting

Planting and Harvesting Calendar

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Pests which Affect Choisya

Aphids (General)

Slug

Snail