£5.85 – £7.25Price range: £5.85 through £7.25
Philadelphus coronarius ‘Aureus’ is a deciduous shrub with stunning golden-yellow foliage and intensely fragrant white flowers. Also known as Golden Mock Orange, it adds vibrant colour and delightful scent to UK gardens, attracting pollinators. Easy to grow.
216 in stock
Transform your garden with Philadelphus coronarius ‘Aureus’, a vibrant deciduous shrub renowned for its golden leaves and fragrant white flowers.
This striking plant, often called Golden Mock Orange, offers delightful year-round appeal. Its bright foliage provides a superb splash of colour, making it a garden favourite. Gardeners love its sweet-scented blooms which fill the air in early summer. Furthermore, it is a robust and easy-to-grow shrub. This makes it perfect for adding structure and beauty to any UK garden space. Thus, its charm is undeniable.
The name Philadelphus honours an ancient Egyptian king, Ptolemy Philadelphus, showing its long horticultural history. The species epithet, coronarius, means “used for garlands,” highlighting its beautiful, fragrant flowers. Meanwhile, the cultivar ‘Aureus’ quite simply means “golden.” This describes its most distinctive feature: its brilliant foliage. Indeed, this golden-leaved Mock Orange is a cherished variety among gardeners throughout the United Kingdom.
In spring, new leaves emerge in a truly spectacular shade of bright golden-yellow. This vibrant colour holds well into summer, gradually softening to a fresh lime green. The change adds continuous interest to your garden borders. Then, from late May to July, masses of pure white, cup-shaped flowers adorn the plant. These blooms release a wonderful, intense scent, often compared to orange blossom. Therefore, it is commonly known as Golden Mock Orange. This delightful fragrance fills the air on warm days, creating a sensory experience.
Philadelphus coronarius ‘Aureus’ is incredibly versatile in the garden. Use it as a radiant specimen plant to catch the eye. It works well within mixed borders, providing a bright backdrop for other plants. Moreover, its compact nature makes it suitable for smaller gardens or even large containers. Create an informal hedge with several plants, adding privacy and charm. To maintain its vigour and flowering, prune this Golden Mock Orange after its blooms fade. Simply remove any old or weak stems. Cut back up to a third of the oldest branches right to the ground. This encourages fresh growth and better flower production next year. Always use sharp, clean tools.
This charming shrub is not just for human enjoyment. Its fragrant flowers act as a beacon for local wildlife. Bees, butterflies, and other essential pollinators visit its blooms. They seek out the nectar and pollen. Therefore, planting Philadelphus coronarius ‘Aureus’ helps support biodiversity in your garden. It provides a valuable food source during its flowering season. This makes it an excellent choice for a wildlife-friendly planting scheme.
Very hardy. Tolerates temperatures typical of a continental winter.
Water regularly during dry periods, especially in its first year after planting, to ensure good establishment. Apply a balanced, general-purpose fertiliser in early spring to encourage healthy growth and abundant flowering. Prune Philadelphus coronarius 'Aureus' immediately after its flowering period in summer; this encourages new shoots and better blooms next season. Remove any old, weak, or congested stems from the base, cutting back up to one-third of the oldest wood. This keeps the plant vigorous and shapely. Generally, this shrub is robust and suffers from few pests or diseases in the UK climate.
This plant is deciduous so it will lose all of its leaves in the autumn and get fresh new foliage each spring.


