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The Bride Pearlbush

Exochorda (ek-so-KOR-da ra-see-MO-sa)

Family: Rosaceae Non-native Shrub (3-15 ft)

'The Bride' pearlbush is a cultivar with the positive traits of heat and drought tolerance, showy spring flowers, dependability and toughness of the species, but is more compact at about 4 feet and retains a good shape and habit as it matures. It is an excellent spring-flowering shrub for small gardens. It is a member of the rose family (Rosaceae). It is a dense and compact, upright, deciduous shrub with arching branches that is as broad as it is high. The pearl-like flower buds in early spring are followed by an abundant late spring bloom of masses of one to two-inch bridal-white flowers (hence the common name). It is easy to grow in sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained, acidic soil, although it does well in more average soil. Best flowering occurs in full sun. It blooms on previous years' growth so pruning should be done immediately after flowering is over. The plant is most suitable for borders, hedges or foundation plantings and sited in a location where it is protected from late spring frosts. Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems have been reported. More information on Exochorda racemosa .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 53 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Exochorda racemosa
Fills a similar niche Salvia rosmarinus Spiraea prunifolia Syringa pubescens subsp. pubescens

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Erect; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Oval medium green leaves are 2 inches long. No significant fall color.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Cup; Saucer
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
1.5-inch abundant white flowers appear in racemes along the stems in mid-spring. Buds are pearl-shaped.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Star-shaped green fruits mature to brown.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Arching green stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Central Asia and Southeastern China
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Rock Wall
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden
Design feature
Accent; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Mass Planting; Specimen
Garden tags
#deciduous #heat tolerant #showy flowers #drought tolerant #shrub #arching #foundation planting #spring flowers #full sun tolerant #hedge
Problems & Resistance
Resistant to
Drought; Heat
Propagation
Stem Cutting

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.