Summer is well and truly upon us. The early spring shoots have matured, and the garden is now alive with a riot of colour and life. Trees that stood bare just a few weeks ago are now thick with foliage, buzzing with bees, birds, and other beneficial wildlife. This is, without doubt, nature’s peak performance season and for the gardener, it’s a joy to behold.

One of the standout stars in my own garden at this time of year is Choisya ternata, more commonly known as Mexican Orange Blossom. Today, as I glance out the window, I’m greeted by a glorious specimen in full bloom. And it's not just a visual treat its sweet citrus scent carries on the air, sometimes detectable from ten metres away on a warm day. The musky fragrance of its foliage adds another sensory delight whenever you brush past it.

The Best Choisya Varieties for Irish and UK Gardens

While I’m admiring the straight green-leaved species today, there are several excellent cultivars worth considering:

• Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’  With its golden foliage, this variety acts like a garden spotlight, brightening up even the dullest corners.

• Choisya ternata ‘Goldfingers’ Similar to ‘Sundance’ but with more finely cut leaves, offering a refined yet vivid burst of colour.

• Choisya ‘Aztec Pearl’ and ‘White Dazzler’ These green-leaved forms produce slightly larger white flowers and have finely cut foliage. When in full bloom, the foliage is practically hidden beneath the floral display.

All of these Choisya cultivars typically grow to around 1.5 metres tall and wide, forming a neat dome of evergreen foliage. They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil exactly the kind of conditions that bring out their best.

🌿 Top Tip: If it’s long-term colour you’re after, the golden-leaved forms offer year-round interest, even when not in flower. Flowering, after all, is fleeting  but foliage lasts.

How to Combine Choisya with Other Summer Plants

Creating contrast in your planting scheme is one of the best ways to make each plant sing. Golden-leaved Choisya varieties, for example, provide a perfect foil for the deepest purples, reds, and blacks in your garden.

Think of pairing Choisya ‘Sundance’ with:

• Red Aquilegia

• Hosta ‘Elegans’  with its big, powdery blue leaves

• Dark-flowered beauties like Black Tulips, Viola ‘Molly Sanderson’, and Ophiopogon nigrescens (Black Lily Turf)

And for a more permanent combination, I’ve underplanted mine with a trio of Ceanothus repens (creeping Californian Lilac). The powder-blue blooms complement the golden foliage perfectly, and once flowering is over, the shiny evergreen leaves of both plants keep things looking lush and cohesive.

A Seasonal Star: Geums in Late Spring and Early Summer

While Choisya holds the fort with evergreen presence, Geums steal the show from late April onwards. They start modestly but are usually at their best by early June. Keep them blooming by regular deadheading and remember, it’s not just the flower head that needs removing, but the whole stem down to its base.

Two great cultivars worth growing:

• Geum ‘Mrs Bradshaw’ A rich, red flowering variety

• Geum ‘Lady Strathden’  A striking yellow that glows in summer beds

Both grow to around 60cm tall and can be divided easily in winter to bulk up your borders.

Don’t Forget the Weeds...

Of course, it’s not just the plants we want that are thriving weeds are at it too! Stay on top of them before they take hold. Hand weeding or hoeing is always the preferred, chemical-free approach. And don’t underestimate the value of a good mulch. A layer of bark not only suppresses weeds but also helps retain moisture during what we all hope will be a long, hot summer.

In summary, Choisya ternata and its cultivars deserve pride of place in any summer garden. Whether you’re after structure, scent, or contrast, this evergreen shrub has it all. Combine it with bold perennials like Geums, or other evergreen partners like Ceanothus repens, and your garden will be alive with interest throughout the year.