Philadelphus that won't flower

Well the plant was put in by the customer years ago, she says it was bought as a Philadelphus, It does look like a Philadelphus, and I prune it at the same time mine has finished flowering so I gather that it's the right time to prune it, they only flower in June/July don't they?

When I say it grows like a weed I mean that it grows so fast it can put on 12' in a year!

Mine only puts on a couple of feet and then I cut it right back and it puts on a spectacular display every year.

Sue

Geoffrey King North Yorkshire said:

Are you sure its a Philadelphus if its never flowered?

If you are always pruning it, how do you know when to do it, if it hasn't flowered?

If it grows like a weed (not sure what you mean), but if it is considered to be a weed, then you have your answer, oust it & put in something with more potential.

Hi Sue,

From what i've read, they flower on old wood, and I have seen some flowering 30 ft up amongst a tree.

So this one maybe a much taller specimen, I suggest that you only prune a third off and give it a good feed, in which way you can see if it flowers next year on the existing growth or the newer growth.

I have also read, that the larger varieties need less pruning, than the more common St.Etoile.
Sue/Bayleaf's Traditional said:

Well the plant was put in by the customer years ago, she says it was bought as a Philadelphus, It does look like a Philadelphus, and I prune it at the same time mine has finished flowering so I gather that it's the right time to prune it, they only flower in June/July don't they?

When I say it grows like a weed I mean that it grows so fast it can put on 12' in a year!

Mine only puts on a couple of feet and then I cut it right back and it puts on a spectacular display every year.

Sue

Geoffrey King North Yorkshire said:

Are you sure its a Philadelphus if its never flowered?

If you are always pruning it, how do you know when to do it, if it hasn't flowered?

If it grows like a weed (not sure what you mean), but if it is considered to be a weed, then you have your answer, oust it & put in something with more potential.

Replies

PRO

Phil Voice July 14, 2012 at 10:34am

Philadelphus needs to be pruned immediately after flowering to give the plant enough time to add sufficient growth for the flowers to develop the following year.
Sue/Bayleaf's Traditional July 14, 2012 at 11:36am

Thanks Phil, I have done this many times over, this is the 7 year that it hasn't flowered, but i will try one more year!

Sue

Phil Voice said:

Philadelphus needs to be pruned immediately after flowering to give the plant enough time to add sufficient growth for the flowers to develop the following year.
PRO

Geoffrey King July 14, 2012 at 12:35pm

Are you sure its a Philadelphus if its never flowered?

If you are always pruning it, how do you know when to do it, if it hasn't flowered?

If it grows like a weed (not sure what you mean), but if it is considered to be a weed, then you have your answer, oust it & put in something with more potential.
Sue/Bayleaf's Traditional July 14, 2012 at 1:59pm

Well the plant was put in by the customer years ago, she says it was bought as a Philadelphus, It does look like a Philadelphus, and I prune it at the same time mine has finished flowering so I gather that it's the right time to prune it, they only flower in June/July don't they?

When I say it grows like a weed I mean that it grows so fast it can put on 12' in a year!

Mine only puts on a couple of feet and then I cut it right back and it puts on a spectacular display every year.

Sue

Geoffrey King North Yorkshire said:

Are you sure its a Philadelphus if its never flowered?

If you are always pruning it, how do you know when to do it, if it hasn't flowered?

If it grows like a weed (not sure what you mean), but if it is considered to be a weed, then you have your answer, oust it & put in something with more potential.
PRO

Geoffrey King July 14, 2012 at 2:45pm

Hi Sue,

From what i've read, they flower on old wood, and I have seen some flowering 30 ft up amongst a tree.

So this one maybe a much taller specimen, I suggest that you only prune a third off and give it a good feed, in which way you can see if it flowers next year on the existing growth or the newer growth.

I have also read, that the larger varieties need less pruning, than the more common St.Etoile.
Sue/Bayleaf's Traditional said:

Well the plant was put in by the customer years ago, she says it was bought as a Philadelphus, It does look like a Philadelphus, and I prune it at the same time mine has finished flowering so I gather that it's the right time to prune it, they only flower in June/July don't they?

When I say it grows like a weed I mean that it grows so fast it can put on 12' in a year!

Mine only puts on a couple of feet and then I cut it right back and it puts on a spectacular display every year.

Sue

Geoffrey King North Yorkshire said:

Are you sure its a Philadelphus if its never flowered?

If you are always pruning it, how do you know when to do it, if it hasn't flowered?

If it grows like a weed (not sure what you mean), but if it is considered to be a weed, then you have your answer, oust it & put in something with more potential.
Paul McNulty July 14, 2012 at 3:56pm

12 feet in a year sounds an awful lot for a philadelphus! I'd say don't feed it, or you'll just be giving it even more vigour, and don't prune it at all for a year. If it doesn't flower over 12 months without pruning you're at least certain you've not cut it back at the wrong time. Then dig it up and burn it!

It's not uncommon for plants to be labled wrongly.