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Philadelphus 'Snowbelle' (Snowbelle Mock Orange)
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© Tsyganov Sergey, some rights reserved (CC-BY-SA) · Wikimedia Commons
Shrubs

Philadelphus 'Snowbelle'

Snowbelle Mock Orange

Hydrangeaceae
Hybrid origin (compact garden hybrid; pompon-flowered)

At a Glance

TypeShrub
HabitMounding
FoliageDeciduous
Height3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 m)
Width3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 m)
Maturity4 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

4 - 8
Zone 4Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
What's my zone? →
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts PollinatorsDrought TolerantFragrant (moderate)Container Friendly
Maintenancelow

Overview

Philadelphus 'Snowbelle' is a deciduous shrub reaching 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 m) tall with a spread of 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 m) and a compact, rounded, dense habit. This hybrid mock orange produces fully double, white, ball-shaped flowers 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) across, moderately fragrant, in May-June. The fully double flowers are packed with petals in a rounded, pompon-like form—more uniformly double than 'Goose Creek'. The opposite, ovate leaves are 1-2.5 inches (2.5-6 cm) long, medium green. Growth rate is moderate. Hardy to zone 4. The compact, rounded habit and the uniformly double pompon flowers make this a tidy garden shrub. Intermediate in size between the dwarf 'Snow Dwarf' and the medium 'Galahad'.

Native Range

Philadelphus 'Snowbelle' is a hybrid of garden origin.

Suggested Uses

Planted in borders, cottage gardens, or as a low hedge at 3-4 foot (0.9-1.2 m) spacing. Compact and tidy. Fully double pompon flowers. Fragrant. Bloom is brief (2-3 weeks). Not suitable for formal hedging requiring winter shearing.

How to Identify

Distinguished from 'Goose Creek' by the more compact habit (3-4 feet versus 6-8 feet) and the tighter, pompon-shaped (versus rosette-shaped) double flowers. Distinguished from 'Snow Dwarf' by the larger size (3-4 feet versus 2-3 feet) and the fully double (versus single to semi-double) flowers. Distinguished from 'Belle Etoile' by the fully double, plain white (versus single, blotched) flowers. The compact shrub with pompon-like fully double white flowers.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 4'
Width/Spread3' - 4'

Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks
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Spring
Fully double white pompon-like flowers 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm), moderately fragrant, May-June. Bloom duration 2-3 weeks on previous year's wood.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

White; fully double pompon-like 1-1.5 inches; moderately fragrant; May-Jun

Foliage Description

Medium green; ovate 1-2.5 inches; opposite

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full SunPartial Shade
Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loamsandclay
Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil (pH 5.5-7.5). Hardy to zone 4. Blooms on old wood. The compact, dense habit requires less pruning than larger cultivars.

Pruning

Prune lightly after flowering. Remove oldest stems at ground level every few years to rejuvenate.

Pruning Schedule

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Maintenance Level

low

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 7 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic