Choisya ternata - Evergreen Trees Direct

Choisya ternata

$120.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: 30cm/33cm

30cm/33cm

Current Stock Height Guides

30cm/33cm: Enquire within for height guide information.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 2m to 3m (approx.)

Mature Width: 1.5m to 3m

Choisya ternata is expected to grow 30cm to 60cm per year (approx.).

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

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Email: sales@evergreentrees.com.au

Phone: (03) 7042 3318

About Your New Choisya ternata

Choisya ternata, the Mexican Orange Blossom, is a dense evergreen shrub with glossy three part leaves that release a citrus scent when brushed. Clusters of white star shaped flowers cover the plant in late spring, carrying a sweet orange blossom fragrance, and a lighter second flush often follows through autumn.

It grows 30 to 60 centimetres a year to about 1.5 to 2.5 metres tall and 1.5 to 3 metres wide. Full sun to part shade suits it, with afternoon shade helpful in hot inland gardens. It takes light to moderate frost once established and does best in well drained soil with water through summer.

It works as an informal hedge along a path, as mass planting in front of taller screening, or in a pot near a doorway where the scent gets noticed. The dense habit holds shape without constant clipping, and the aromatic foliage is generally left alone by possums and rabbits.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Mexican Orange Blossom

What is Choisya ternata?

Choisya ternata is an evergreen shrub from Mexico in the citrus family, Rutaceae. The name refers to the leaves, which are divided into three glossy leaflets that smell strongly of citrus when crushed. White star shaped flowers scented like orange blossom appear in late spring. It forms a naturally rounded, dense mound of foliage.

How big does Mexican Orange Blossom grow?

It reaches roughly 1.5 to 2.5 metres tall and 1.5 to 3 metres wide, growing 30 to 60 centimetres a year. The spread is often greater than the height, so give it room in a bed rather than squeezing it against an edge. Regular light trimming keeps it more compact where space is limited.

When does Choisya ternata flower?

The main flush comes in late spring, October into November, and a lighter second flowering often follows in autumn around March and April. Warm coastal gardens can see scattered flowers outside those windows. The display is heaviest on plants grown in good light, as heavily shaded plants flower only sparsely.

How far apart should I plant Choisya for a hedge?

For a dense informal screen, plant 1 to 1.5 metres apart. For a tighter, more formal hedge, bring the spacing in to about 80 centimetres. Closer planting fills faster but needs more trimming to keep air moving through the plants. Stagger a double row if you want a thicker barrier along a boundary.

Does it need sun or shade?

Both work. Full sun gives the densest habit and the heaviest flowering in cooler and coastal gardens, while part shade is better in hot inland areas where afternoon sun bleaches the leaves. In deep shade the plant becomes open and leggy and flowers poorly. Morning sun with afternoon shade is a reliable compromise.

Can Choisya ternata grow in pots?

Yes. It suits a pot of 40 centimetres or more near an entry or on a terrace, where the scented foliage and flowers are close at hand. Container plants stay smaller than those in the ground. Use a free draining mix, water consistently through summer and repot or root prune every few years.

How do I prune and care for Mexican Orange Blossom?

Trim lightly straight after the spring flowering to hold the shape and encourage the autumn flush. It responds well to a harder cut back into older wood if it becomes leggy. Feed in spring with a general fertiliser, mulch to keep the roots cool, and water through dry spells. Avoid heavy wet soils, which cause root rot.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

View full details

Type: Garden Supplies

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

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Uses in my Garden

Screening or Privacy
Shrubs
Groundcovers
Underplanting
Plant in Pots (or) Suitable for Pots

Choisya ternata works in an:

Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
Formal Garden – structured, symmetrical design with clipped shapes.
Cottage Garden – romantic mix of flowers, colour, and texture.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Is Choisya ternata Evergreen or Deciduous?

Choisya ternata is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 2m to 3m (approx.)

Mature Width: 1.5m to 3m

Choisya ternata is expected to grow 30cm to 60cm per year (approx.).

Growth Rate of Choisya ternata

Choisya ternata is expected to grow 30cm to 60cm per year (approx.).

They are considered to have a:

Medium Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Choisya ternata

Is Choisya ternata frost tolerant?

Choisya ternata is Frost Tolerant – Can handle light to moderate frost once established.

Does Choisya ternata Flower?

Choisya ternata produces clusters of fragrant star-shaped white flowers from spring and again in autumn. The citrus-scented blooms sit brightly against the glossy green foliage, creating a fresh, uplifting seasonal display that attracts plenty of attention.

Does Choisya ternata flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Spring
Summer
Autumn

Flower Type:

Clustered
Fragrant
Pollinator-attracting

Flower Colour:

White

Is Choisya ternata an Australian Native Tree?

Choisya ternata is Native to Native to Mexico and the southwestern United States, where it grows naturally in warm temperate regions. Widely cultivated for its perfumed flowers and neat habit.

What is the Wildlife Value of Choisya ternata ?

Its fragrant, nectar-rich flowers attract bees, hoverflies and other beneficial pollinators, while the dense evergreen foliage provides shelter for small birds and insects. The extended flowering period also supports pollinator activity across multiple seasons.

How much Sunlight does Choisya ternata need?

Choisya ternata will thrive best in:

Full Sun

Preferred Soil?

Choisya ternata performs best in well-drained loam or sandy loam soils and prefers slightly acidic to neutral conditions. It can tolerate poorer soils but may struggle in heavy clay or waterlogged areas unless improved with organic matter to enhance drainage. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then transition to deep, occasional watering as it matures to support strong flowering and evergreen health.

Is Choisya ternata Drought Tolerant?

Is Choisya ternata Drought tolerant?

As a young plant it requires regular watering, but once established Choisya ternata develops moderate drought tolerance. It performs reliably in warm, dry conditions and maintains its dense, rounded form with occasional deep watering during extended dry spells.

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How To Plant Your Choisya ternata

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Choisya ternata

Hedging and screening: 1 to 1.5 metres apart for a dense informal screen, or 80 centimetres apart for a tighter formal hedge.

Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

Choisya ternata is expected to grow 30cm to 60cm per year (approx.).

Medium Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Choisya ternata

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, reduce to once weekly in dry periods. Mulch helps maintain consistent moisture.

Mulching: Apply a 5 to 7 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk.

Pruning: Tip prune in late winter and again in summer to build dense growth. For a formal hedge, light shaping two to three times a year keeps lines crisp.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release general-purpose fertiliser in early spring and again in autumn for steady growth and consistent foliage colour.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional inspection for psyllids or scale in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Choisya ternata in Different Soil

Choisya ternata performs best in well-drained loam or sandy loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage is improved with organic matter.

Sandy soil: Free-draining and ideal. Mulch well to maintain consistent moisture.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost before planting.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent growth.

pH: Slightly acidic to neutral preferred. Mulch with composted leaf litter to maintain levels naturally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is Choisya ternata deer resistant? Yes, it's generally unappealing to deer.
Is it suitable for pots? Yes, it thrives in containers if provided adequate drainage.