Heading out of the garden after an afternoon of taking photos, I was drawn to the intoxicating fragrance of Philadelphus delavayi, which was in full bloom. As I neared the shrub to drink in the aroma, I noticed this lovely butterfly busily feeding on the nectar from the flowers.
Ingrid Hoff, Horticulture Manager at UBC Botanical Garden and our resident insect specialist, identified it as Papilio rutulus, the western tiger swallowtail. She writes about the visitor, "This is one of the most common butterflies along the west coast, often found anywhere there is moisture. Large numbers of males can often be found "puddling" together in muddy areas or near streams. The species is found from British Columbia to Baja California east through the Rocky Mountains, but rarely beyond them. The western tiger swallowtail can have up to three broods per season.
Philadelphus delavayi has been feature on BPotD previously. Daniel Mosquin wrote this entry, which is still very much worth reading and the text accompanies a beautiful close up view of the buds and flowers.
The interpretive sign for this plant describes it very well:
"Named for the French missionary Père Jean Marie Delavay (1838-1895), who characterized much of the flora of Yunnan, Philadelphus delavayi is a variable species that is considered one of the most beautiful of all mock oranges.
Like other Philadelphus species, Delavay mock orange is an arching shrub that displays its pure white, saucer-shaped, fragrant flowers on short, lax racemes. The appeal of Philadelphus delavayi does not lie so much in its open flowers—which are admittedly large and beautiful—but in the sumptuous plum-purple calyces that back the flowers. The startling contrast of the purple calyx and white corolla is best seen before the flowers are completely open."
My ‘Golden Mock Orange’ is blooming right now, and I can hardly keep my nose out of it, LOL!
I have a mature (20 plus years) and 4 new mock oranges. Orientation is to the Northwest of our patio, the gentle winds of spring fill our patio with the fragrance of numerous shrubs.
Josee and Ms Kim lilacs a month ago, Viburnums and now the mock orange continues on. Bayberry is coming on soon.
The downside of many hybrids, i.e. knock out roses and Lady in Red hydrangeas is that they have zero scent. The old heirlooms are “keepers.” The one advantage of the new lilacs, like Josee and Miss Kim are that they kept the fragrance but are close to the ground (6ft. max) so the fragrance is at optimum levels. The old Syringus Vulgaris often are 20 ft. tall and the fragrance is over our heads.
Thanks for posting a beautiful photo. The mock orange is a shrub I cannot live without in my gardens. And like you have shown, brings delightful butterfingers as well. Well done!
What a beatiful picture.
Thanks so much.
HA....I have a picture almost exactly like this....but, it’s not on a flowering shrub....and I took the photo about 8 years ago in British Columbia! Thanks for posting...now I know what kind of butterfly it was....maybe I’ll post my picture.
Philadelphus? Must smell like a dumpster in July...