Plant Mexican orange in spring or fall, at the same depth as the pot.
Plant in spring or fall, at the same depth as the pot
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Spring or fall, from a nursery pot | A midsummer move, or a wet frozen hole |
| Mix | The native soil if it drains; compost in heavy clay so water does not pool | A manure pocket, or a clay sump at the crown |
| Depth | The top of the root ball level with the surrounding grade | Planting deeper than the nursery soil line |
| Spacing | 4 to 8 feet for classic ternata; less for a compact pearl | A wet foundation strip with no drain |
Set the shrub at the same depth it sat in the pot, in a hole twice as wide as the root ball. [1] Leave 4 to 8 feet for a full green mound. [2]
Plant at the same depth as the pot?
Yes. Keep the crown at grade. Burying it in wet soil is how crown rot starts.
How to plant Mexican orange
Work one hole at a time: dig, set the crown, then backfill with the soil you lifted.
- Plant in spring or fall, on ground that drains. Amend heavy clay so water does not sit on the crown. [3]
- Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Do not add fertilizer to the hole.
- Set the root ball so the top sits at grade. Compact White Dazzler still wants the same depth. [4]
- Backfill with the native soil, firm gently, and water once to settle the hole.
Space 4 to 8 feet — and what fails
Four feet is a tight hedge. Six to 8 feet matches a full green ternata. Compact pearls take less width. Keep the crown out of a wet clay bowl.
- Planted too deep, or in a wet hole — crown and root rot. Lift and reset at grade in drained ground.
- Cramped against a wall with no air — the shrub still wants 4 to 8 feet of room as it fills out.
How far apart should you plant Mexican orange?
Leave 4 to 8 feet for classic ternata. Use the wider gap for a hedge that should stay full. Compact pearls can sit closer.
If you buried the crown or planted in a wet bowl, reset the young shrub now — do not wait for rot.
FAQ
Can I start Mexican orange from seed?
You can, but named gold and pearl forms will not come true. Buy a nursery shrub for the first plant.
Can I plant in summer?
Avoid it. Spring or fall gives roots time before heat or hard freeze. Keep a summer-planted ball watered if you have no other window.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] GardenersHQ -
https://www.gardenershq.com/inthegarden/mexican-orange-blossom-choisya-ternata/ - [2] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/choisya-ternata/ - [3] Oregon State University Landscape Plants -
https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/choisya-ternata - [4] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/choisya-x-dewitteana-aztec-pearl/
This note is part of Choisya Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors