Shrub of the Month-April 2010
Tagged as:
Pearl bush
(Exochorda x macrantha)
Hanging clusters of pearl-like buds open in mid-spring to reveal white showy flowers that cover this shrub like a blanket of snow. This uncommon gem can be found in the Olive Family Collection, just west of the IL-53 underpass. Park in Parking Lot 33.
Before evergreens such as yews and junipers became a common feature of home landscapes a century ago, most American garden shrubs were leafless in winter. The popular shrubs—lilacs, forsythia, and spireas among them—were deciduous. Some of these deciduous shrubs have remained popular but others, including the common pearl bush (Exochorda racemosa), are rare today. Although its height would probably overwhelm most American gardens, this shrub nonetheless still delights with its pure white flowers in spring, carefree nature, and resistance to pest and insect problems.
Mature size: 8 to 12 feet high and wide
Rate of growth: Moderate to slow
Visit this shrub in all seasons to see its changing features!
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| Pearl bush bud | Pearl bush flower |
Click to enlarge photo