Pollinator plant

Mexican orange

Choisya ternata

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Common names

16 names · 13 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (12)
Dutch
  • Mexicaanse oranjebloesem
French
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 墨西哥橘[4]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 墨西哥橘[4]
Finnish
German
  • Mexikanische Orange[3]
  • Mexikanische Orangenblume[2][4]
Italian
Polish
  • Czojsia trójlistkowa[4]
Russian
  • Шуазия тройчатая[4]
Slovak
  • šoazia trojpočetná[4]
Spanish
Swedish
  • sanktpatriksbuske[4]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Choisya ternata — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Mexican Orange — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Choisya ternata.
  • Mexican Mock Orange — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Choisya ternata.
  • Mexican Orange Blossom — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Choisya ternata.
[2] Choisya ternata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Mexican orange — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 287309; Choisya ternata.
  • Mexikanische Orangenblume — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 287309; Choisya ternata.
  • clavo — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 287309; Choisya ternata.
  • Oranger du Mexique — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 287309; Choisya ternata.
  • Arancio del Messico — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 287309; Choisya ternata.
[3] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Choisya ternata ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Mexican Orange (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 173810; taxon 69YSJ.
  • Mexikanische Orange (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 173811; taxon 69YSJ.
[4] Choisya ternata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Mexican orange — results[5].names[2]; taxon id 287309; Choisya ternata.
  • Mexikanische Orangenblume — results[5].names[9]; taxon id 287309; Choisya ternata.
  • clavo — results[5].names[1]; taxon id 287309; Choisya ternata.
  • Oranger du Mexique — results[5].names[3]; taxon id 287309; Choisya ternata.
  • Arancio del Messico — results[5].names[10]; taxon id 287309; Choisya ternata.
  • 墨西哥橘 — results[5].names[4]; taxon id 287309; Choisya ternata.
  • 墨西哥橘 — results[5].names[5]; taxon id 287309; Choisya ternata.
  • Шуазия тройчатая — results[5].names[6]; taxon id 287309; Choisya ternata.
  • sanktpatriksbuske — results[5].names[7]; taxon id 287309; Choisya ternata.
  • Czojsia trójlistkowa — results[5].names[8]; taxon id 287309; Choisya ternata.
  • koisi — results[5].names[11]; taxon id 287309; Choisya ternata.
  • šoazia trojpočetná — results[5].names[12]; taxon id 287309; Choisya ternata.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Choisya ternata is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Rutaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
1.22–2.44 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
1.22–2.44 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Dense; Mounding; Rounded

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight); Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Autumn; Spring; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
Mexico.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Plant profile

About this plant

Mexican orange (Choisya ternata) is a shrub. It flowers from May to September.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Choisya ternata — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 2028976; ID 69YSJ; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2028976; ID 69YSJ; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Choisya ternata — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Choisya ternata — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1345252; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1265928, 1265929, 1265930, 1265931

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.