Choisya Sundance, the golden Mexican orange tree

Choisya ternata Sundance, a golden-leaved Mexican Orange

Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’ is is a true marvel at the beginning of spring with its magnificent small white flowers and its superior golden yellow foliage.

Key Choisya Ternata Sundance facts

NameChoisya ternata ‘Sundance’
Family – Rutaceae (Rue family)
Type – shrub
Height – 3 to 6 ½ feet (1 to 2 meters)

Exposure – part sun and shade
Foliageevergreen shrub
Flowering – April to June

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.

Growing potted Sundance Choisya ternata

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

Flowers and lime green leaves of the Choisya ternata Sundance Mexican orange shrub.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:

Smart tip about choisya sundance

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