Yellow Hedysarum vs Lewis Mock Orange - TreeTime.ca

Yellow Hedysarum vs Lewis Mock Orange

Philadelphus lewisii

Hedysarum sulphurescens

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

CUSTOM GROW

Lewis Mock Orange
Yellow Hedysarum

Lewis Mock Orange is a flowering ornamental shrub that produces an abundance of white, fragrant blooms. The flowers have a sweet scent similar to orange blossoms, with a hint of pineapple. They bloom for several weeks from late spring to early summer, attracting pollinators and other beneficial insects.

Native to North America, Lewis Mock Orange is found from the southernmost portions of Alberta and British Columbia, and south into the northwestern United States. It makes an attractive shrub and can be used in hedgerows, pollinator gardens, and naturalization projects. Blooms occur on the previous year’s wood, so it is recommended to prune after it has finished flowering.

Yellow Hedysarum is a native perennial wildflower recognized for its clusters of pale yellow to creamy-white, pea-like blooms. Flowering from late spring into summer, it adds subtle colour to grasslands, roadsides, and open woods while attracting a variety of pollinators, especially bumblebees.

As a nitrogen-fixing plant, Yellow Hedysarum enriches soils and supports the growth of surrounding vegetation. Its deep taproot and extensive root system make it drought-tolerant and effective at stabilizing soil. Grizzly bears are known to dig up and eat the nutritious taproot. Its resilience and ecological value make it well-suited for restoration, naturalization, pollinator gardens, and erosion control projects.

Lewis Mock Orange Quick Facts

Yellow Hedysarum Quick Facts

Zone: 4a
Zone: 2b
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 0.2 m (0.8 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Growth form: upright to arching, multi-stemmed
Growth form: ascending to upright
Spreading: suckering - medium, seeds - low
Spreading: seeds - low


Flowers: fragrant, white
Flowers: creamy yellow, in dense spikes
Bloom time: mid spring to early summer
Bloom time: late spring to summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC
Native to: AB, BC
Other Names: california mock orange, lewis mockorange, western mock orange, western syringa, wild mock orange
Other Names: sulphur hedysarum, sulphur sweet-vetch, yellow sweet-vetch