Choisya x dewitteana 'Aztec Pearl'

Common name: Mexican Orange Blossom 'Aztec Pearl'

Description: Choisya x dewitteana 'Aztec Pearl' is one of the most elegant and refined of all evergreen garden shrubs, offering a beautifully balanced combination of slender, deeply divided, aromatic foliage and an exceptionally generous and long-lasting display of fragrant white blossom that has rightfully made it one of the most popular and widely planted shrubs in the British garden. The narrow, glossy, dark green leaflets are more finely cut than those of the common Mexican Orange Blossom, Choisya ternata, giving 'Aztec Pearl' a lighter, more delicate and sophisticated texture that associates beautifully with a wide range of planting styles from traditional cottage gardens to contemporary schemes. The foliage releases a pleasant, clean, aromatic fragrance when brushed, adding a further sensory dimension to this already highly rewarding shrub. From late spring, the neat, rounded mounds of foliage are adorned with clusters of pure white, five-petalled flowers, each with a central boss of golden stamens, that carry a delicious almond-like fragrance — sweeter and more pronounced than that of Choisya ternata — and provide an outstanding nectar source for bees, hoverflies, and butterflies. A second, often equally generous flush of flowering frequently follows in late summer to early autumn, ensuring 'Aztec Pearl' earns its keep in the garden across an exceptionally long season. The compact, naturally rounded habit requires little or no pruning to maintain its shape, making this an outstandingly low-maintenance shrub of year-round value and four-season appeal.

Other benefits: two generous flushes of fragrant white blossom in late spring and again in late summer to autumn; aromatic evergreen foliage with fine, elegant texture; naturally compact and rounded habit requiring minimal maintenance; year-round evergreen structure; excellent for mixed borders, courtyard gardens, and informal hedging

Wildlife attraction: bees, hoverflies, butterflies, and other pollinators

Height & spread (approx.) at 10 years: 1.5m x 1.5m

Position: full sun to partial shade; performs best in a warm, sheltered position; tolerates light shade though flowering is most prolific in sun; a south- or west-facing aspect is ideal in cooler regions

Soil pH: adaptable; performs well in neutral to slightly alkaline soils; pH 6.0–7.5; requires well-drained soil

Moisture: moderate watering when establishing; tolerates drought reasonably well once established; prefers well-drained, fertile soil; avoid waterlogging

Winter hardiness: hardy to approximately -10°C to -15°C in a sheltered position; may sustain some foliage damage in the hardest winters but will regenerate reliably; no protection required in most UK regions