Mock orange

'Belle Etoile' is an arching, deciduous shrub. It is similar to another delightful mock orange, 'Beauclerk', but is more compact. It flowers profusely from late spring to early summer. The large, white flowers have a pale purple centres; the leaves are tapered and dark green. This is a good shrub for a mixed border. Cut back shoots to a strong bud each year after flowering. On older plants, remove roughly a quarter of the oldest branches each year to encourage new growth. To propagate, take softwood cuttings in summer or hardwood cuttings in autumn or winter. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit.