Pearl-white, orange-scented flowers open over spring-green leaves on a dense evergreen shrub barely 5 feet tall — the Mexican orange ‘Aztec Pearl’ (Choisya ternata ‘Aztec Pearl’), which flowers three times a year and grows as happily in a pot as in the ground. Give it full sun and well-drained soil, and the display comes freely.
| Name | Choisya ternata ‘Aztec Pearl’ |
|---|---|
| Family | Rutaceae (Rue family) |
| Type | Shrub |
| Height | 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 m) |
| Exposure | Full sun |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Flowering | Mid-spring to early summer, and again in early autumn |
It is best to plant Aztec Pearl Choisya in fall for proper root development before winter but it can also be planted in spring.
Right from the start, especially if you’ve planted in spring or summer, water abundantly and regularly, albeit without flooding the roots of the shrub.
In a pot, use a loam-based compost lightened with grit, choose a container with open drainage holes, and stand it on feet so water runs straight out.
‘Aztec Pearl’ is one of a small family of Mexican orange shrubs that share the same easy nature and orange-blossom scent. They differ mainly in leaf colour, leaf shape and final size, which is what decides where each one belongs in the garden.
| Variety | Foliage | Height | Flowering |
|---|---|---|---|
| ‘White Dazzler’ | Fine dark green leaflets, dense habit | 3 ft (1 m) | Late spring, repeating into early autumn |
| ‘Sundance’ | Bright golden-yellow, best colour in sun | 5 to 6 ft (1.5 to 2 m) | Late spring, flowering sparse |
| ‘Goldfingers’ | Narrow golden leaflets | 3 to 4 ft (1 to 1.2 m) | Late spring |
There is no standard recommendation when it comes to pruning Aztec Pearl Choisya, but if you need to reduce it or balance its branches, go ahead.
It is appealing to give it a nice shape, especially when formed as part of a hedge.
Choisya must be watered regularly during the 1st year that follows the date of planting.
The ‘Aztec Pearl’ Choisya ternata is a 1982 hybrid bred from Choisya ternata and Choisya dumosa var. Arizonica. Aztec evokes native tribes of ancient Central America, while Pearl shows how precious white the flowers are…
Whether the variety is Choisya ternata ‘Aztec Pearl’ or ‘Sundance’ or any other, these shrubs make for very easy growing and have the advantage of never growing taller than 6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters) tall, which means regular pruning isn’t necessary.
A small shrub with a fragrance reminiscent of orange trees, a dense shape and magnificent blooming, Choisya ternata ‘Aztec pearl’, a variety of Mexican orange tree, is native to that North American country.
The flowers, similar to those of the orange tree, are very fragrant and this shrub adapts very well to growing outdoors in the ground and to growing in pots on a terrace or balcony.
Adding flower shrub fertilizer once a year in spring will enhance the blooming of Aztec Pearl Choisya ternata.
Set Aztec Pearl Choisya beside a path or doorway, where brushing against the leaves releases their citrus scent.
