The Bride for May ...Exochorda macrantha
Here comes the bride! It’s a theme played all over the country in spring and early summer as bridal processions make their entrance. But who would have thought that we would be referring to a plant! Exochorda macrantha ‘The Bride’ lives up to its name and captures the sense of the season in a very special way. When clusters of showy white flowers adorn the tips of its branches in late spring and early summer, this deciduous shrub resembles all the freshness and beauty of a blushing bride.
The Bride’ is one of a small family of only four species of deciduous shrubs. The Exochorda family is also known as the ‘Pearl bush’ which possibly refers to the appearance of the white flower buds before bloom. They originate from Central Asia to China and Korea and are grown for their dense arching shapes and abundant cup-shaped flowers.
Shrubs are a versatile option for gardens of all styles and sizes and ‘The Bride’ is no exception. Its show of delicate flowers is set off beautifully by its foliage - the oval-shaped leaves are light to mid-green in colour and provide a pleasing contrast. It is a compact shrub with arching branches which grows in a mound-shape to a height of about 2m and a width of 3m. This provides a useful structural form within the garden and its woody stems maintain a long-term framework. When developing a garden design this sort of shape and form can help as a base to work from. ‘The Bride’ has plenty of garden presence and would work well planted on its own as a showpiece or alongside other shrubs in a border.
Just as a sunny day is best for a wedding, in the same way Exochorda macrantha ‘The Bride’ loves a full sun position or light dappled shade. Whilst this plant prefers a fertile, moist, well-drained soil it will cope in most soils. However it is worth noting that shallow chalky soils are not ideal and green leaf colouration can be lost if planted in these situations.
In our busy everyday lives when we have less and less time for working in the garden ‘The Bride’ offers many benefits. It is fully frost hardy and not prone to pests or diseases. Additionally it requires quite low maintenance. A little attention after the flowering period, such as thinning out old shoots, will improve the vigour of the plant and ensure that this bride is a real stunner for seasons to come!