Read about Choisya in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
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Choisya (J. D. Choisy, Swiss botanist. 1799-1859). Rutaceae. One Mexican shrub, C. ternata, HBK., grown in S. Calif, and S. Fla., and sometimes under glass. It grows 4-8 ft. high, making a compact free-blooming bush, with opposite ternate lvs.. the lfts. lance-obovate or oblong, thick and entire, with pellucid dots: fls. in a terminal, forking cluster, white, fragrant, orange-like (whence the vernacular name "Mexican orange"), 1 in. across, with pellucid dots. R.H. 1869:330. Gn. 50, p. 203. J.H. III. 34:253.— A handsome shrub, worthy of greater popularity. It will endure several degrees of frost, and should succeed in the open in many of the southern states. Blossoms in S. Calif . at different seasons; it can be made to bloom, it is said, every two months by withholding water and then watering liberally, as is done with roses in S. France. Hardy against a wall in parts of S. England. L.H.B.
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 Choisya ternata in flower | ||||||||||||
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| About 7-9 species, including: Choisya arizonica |
Choisya (Starleaf or Mexican Orange) is a small genus of aromatic evergreen shrubs in the family Rutaceae, native to southern North America from the southwest United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) and south through most of Mexico.
The species grow to 1-3 m tall. The leaves are opposite, leathery, glossy, palmately compound with 3-13 leaflets, each leaflet 3-8 cm long and 0.5-3.5 cm broad. The flowers are star-shaped, 3-5 cm diameter, with 4-7 white petals, 8-15 stamens and a green stigma; they are produced throughout the late spring and summer. The fruit is a leathery two to six sectioned capsule.
The name 'Starleaf' refers to the palmate leaves, while 'Mexican Orange' refers to its flowers being similar to those of the closely related Orange, both in shape and scent.
The species vary in the number and shape of the leaflets, with three broad leaflets in C. ternata, and up to 13 very narrow leaflets in C. dumosa.
Cultivation and uses
Choisya is a popular ornamental plant in areas with mild winters, grown for its strongly aromatic foliage and flowers. The flowers are also vaued for bee forage, producing abundant nectar.