Choisya dewitteana

Choisya 'Aztec Pearl' is the evergreen shrub that smells like orange blossoms and flowers twice a year. A hybrid form of Mexican orange, it produces clusters of star-shaped white flowers, fragrant, five-petaled, about an inch across, in late spring and again in late summer if the first flush is deadheaded. The foliage is the distinguishing feature: narrow, finger-like leaflets arranged in groups of three to five, darker and more finely textured than common Mexican orange, giving the plant a refined, almost ferny appearance.

In Western Washington, 'Aztec Pearl' performs well in the sheltered, well-drained sites that characterize many residential gardens. It is borderline hardy in our coldest winters, rated for milder zones, so site it against a south or west-facing wall where reflected heat moderates the cold. One disease is tracked, no significant pest concerns. Once established, it is drought-tolerant through our dry summers and evergreen through our mild winters. The fragrance alone justifies planting it near an entry, a patio, or a window you open in spring. If you want a mid-height evergreen shrub that flowers, smells good, and stays dense without shearing, this is a strong choice for protected sites.