Golden yellow leaves hold their colour on a neat, densely branched bush, and the small white flowers open with the scent of orange blossom. The golden Mexican orange tree (Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’) stays around 3 to 6 ½ feet, which is why it suits pots and shaded corners so well. Give it part shade and it asks for almost nothing.
Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’ at a glance
Name
Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’
Family
Rutaceae (Rue family)
Type
Shrub
Height
3 to 6 ½ feet (1 to 2 metres)
Exposure
Part sun and shade
Foliage
Evergreen
Flowering
Mid-spring to early summer
Planting Choisya ternata Sundance
It is best to plant Choisya Sundance in spring or in fall.
If purchased in a pot or in a container, planting is also possible anytime during the year while avoiding frost spells and high temperatures.
Right from the start, water abundantly and regularly, albeit without flooding the roots of the shrub.
This Mexican orange tree variety is perfectly well suited to being grown in pots. Thanks to its small size, you’ll be able to keep it in its pot for a long time.
A good planting soil mix in a pot that is large enough should be just perfect.
The pot must have a hole in the bottom to facilitate water drainage.
Pruning choisya sundance
Choisya sundance, whether standalone, part of a hedge or in a flower bed doesn’t require any particular pruning, especially during the 3 first years.
But it is often nice to succeed in giving it a nice shape, especially when it is part of a hedge.
If you’re hoping to reduce or balance the branches, avoid pruning at the end of winter, or you’ll be altering the blooming.
Always wait for the end of the blooming season to prune, preferably in June.
Learn more about Choisya Sundance
Small white flowers above golden yellow evergreen foliage
A very beautiful shrub with dense branching and magnificent blooming, choisya sundance stands out thanks to its golden foliage that is perfect to decorate shade-covered spots in the garden.
This golden Mexican orange tree is easy growing and has the advantage of never growing taller than 3 to 6 ½ feet (1 to 2 meters), which makes pruning it a question of taste rather than a need, and makes it perfect for growing in pots.
Even if you let the shrub grow without ever pruning it, it will never grow higher than 10 feet (3 meters) high.
The flowers, similar to those of orange trees, are very fragrant and this shrub adapts very well to direct growing and to growing in pots on a terrace or balcony. Read also about shrubs:
Apart from the planting and the following weeks, there is no need to water excessively because the golden Mexican orange tree doesn’t need it.
Image credits (edits Gaspard Lorthiois):
CC BY 2.0: Josh Egan-Wyer
CC BY-SA 2.0: 阿橋 HQ
Written by Gaspard Lorthiois | Loves helping out, especially when it comes to growing things. Worked in herbal medicine, runs a farm, and dabbles in tech. Master's degree and engineer.
