Named for Swiss botanist Jacques Denis Choisy, Choisya ternata is native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, where it grows in chalky, well-drained soils often near the coast. In milder gardens — zones 7 through 10 — it becomes a dependable evergreen shrub of 4 to 8 feet, valued as much for its aromatic foliage as for its flowers. Crushing a leaf releases a clean citrus scent, and the white blooms that open in late spring carry the same fragrance across a garden on still evenings. Secondary flushes of bloom can follow through summer and into fall if conditions are cooperative.

Young plants grow quickly, then settle into a more moderate pace as they mature. Pruning is rarely essential, but a light trim after flowering encourages a possible second bloom and keeps the form tidy. In chalky or lean soils it often performs well; in heavy clay, drainage becomes critical. North of zone 7 it can be grown in a container and brought under cover before hard frosts arrive — temperatures below 5°F risk defoliation. Cold winds do more damage than cold alone, so a sheltered position repays the effort.