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Philadelphus coronarius

Philadelphus coronarius

9.9
A large garden shrub with strong, sweet white flowers
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : philadelphus coronarius
  • The Philadelphus coronarius in my garden fills the air with a sweet fragrance every spring.

Examples

  • Botanists often recommend Philadelphus coronarius for ornamental planting due to its attractive flowers.

  • Gardeners appreciate Philadelphus coronarius for its hardiness and ability to thrive in various climates.

  • The Philadelphus coronarius blooms beautifully in early summer.

  • Many gardeners love the fragrance of Philadelphus coronarius flowers.

  • The Philadelphus coronarius produces large, fragrant white flowers that attract many pollinators to the garden.

  • In spring, the Philadelphus coronarius is a stunning addition to any landscape, thanks to its beautiful racemes of creamy-white flowers.

  • Many homeowners choose Philadelphus coronarius for its hardiness and lovely scent, making it perfect for ornamental gardens.

Synonyms

syringa
vsPhiladelphus coronarius
9.1

A large garden shrub with strong sweet white flowers

is the botanical Latin name for the same shrub
mock orange
vsPhiladelphus coronarius
7.2

A bush or small tree with white, sweet smelling flowers grown in gardens

is specifically a large hardy shrub rather than a small tree form

Surface Forms

Morphology

Philadelphus + coronarius

This is a Latin scientific binomial: the first element names the genus and the second is a Latin epithet. An average B1 learner who knows the English word for the genus (or not) and not Latin will not be able to derive the descriptive meaning (‘a large, hardy shrub with showy fragrant flowers’) from the two parts. Because the second constituent is not an English word and the name functions as an arbitrary label rather than a compositional phrase, the expression is opaque to learners.

Etymology

Philadelphus coronarius comes from old Greek and Latin words. Philadelphus means 'brother-loving' and coronarius means 'for crowns' because people used the plant's sweet, white flowers to make garlands and wreaths. That's why the name fits a large, fragrant garden shrub.