Philadelphus x cymosus ‘Mer de Glace' ("Sea of Ice") mock orange is a medium-sized shrub that covers itself in globular semi-double white flowers redolent of the fragrance of orange blossoms. This is an old cultivar dating to 1920, bred by French plantsman Victor Lemoine. Undemanding as to culture, it is successful when planted in a sunny position and is virtually immune to insect and disease problems in the Chicago area. The leaves turn yellow in fall but the fruit capsules are small and not ornamental. When not in bloom, the shrub can look rather unkempt. The genus name is thought to celebrate Ptolomy Philadelphus, a patron of the arts and sciences who ruled from 285 – 246 BC. The species, x cymosus, is of garden origin and reflects parentage from many species from around the world that have been collected and grown together in garden settings – allowing hybridization to take place.