Shrub to 3 m tall Leaves: short-stalked, 4 - 10 cm long, 2 - 6 cm wide, elliptic and inversely egg-shaped to oblong egg-shaped with a pointed tip and wedge-shaped to rounded base, few-toothed, slightly hairy or hairless above and densely hairy beneath. Flowers: borne solitary or in clusters of three (cymule), non-fragrant, 5 cm across, with four hairy sepals, four large white petals, and many stamens. Fruit: a hardened capsule, inversely egg-shaped, four-chambered, many-seeded. Twigs: brown, becoming deep brown.

Similar species: Philadelphus coronarius and Philadelphus pubescens both have fragrant flowers in clusters of five or more. Philadelphus inodorus has hairless sepals and leaves that are hairless except along the veins and vein axils.

Flowering: July

Habitat and ecology: Introduced from farther south. Escapes were found in our region growing in a cemetary and in dry, disturbed woods along a right-of-way.

Occurence in the Chicago region: non-native

Etymology: Philadelphus is named after a Greek king, but also means "brotherly love." Floridus means "from Florida."

Author: The Morton Arboretum