Exochorda racemosa (Lindl.) Rehd.

Exochorda racemosa (RBG Kew, April 2010). Image John Grimshaw.

subsp. giraldii (Hesse) F.Y.Gao & Maesen

Exochorda giraldii caused a stir among German horticulturists when it first emerged, apparently described from cultivated plants. Once the dust settled, the name was applied to a shrub of vigorous growth and notably large flowers, with petals that taper towards the base, ending in a long claw. It has been recognised as ‘a superior shrub for gardens’ (Bean 1916) but remains rarer in cultivation than subsp. racemosa. It is usually found as the var. wilsonii, said to have the largest flowers of the genus (Edwards & Marshall (eds) 2019).

This subspecies occurs in Central China, sandwiched between the disjunct population of subsp. racemosa, and found at higher elevation, giving it a ‘more montane character’ (Gao 1998). Though Gao limits the distribution of the subspecies to Gansu, Shaanxi and Shanxi, she does not seem to consider var. wilsonii, which she synonymised under this subspecies and which was collected further south in western Hubei. Gu and Alexander (2003) in Flora of China give a wider distribution for subsp. giraldii (as E. giraldii) and in it include var. wilsonii, occurring in the southern area of the distribution (Anhui, Hubei, Sichuan, Zhejiang) and at lower elevation: 600–1300 m, compared to 1000–2000 m for the autonym var. giraldii.

The taxon was first introduced from seed sent to Ludwig Beissner, inspector of the botanical gardens of Bonn, by Father Giuseppe Giraldi, a Franciscan friar and botanist. Beissner forwarded the seed, which Giraldi collected in Shaanxi, to Hermann Hesse (no relation to the novelist!), a nurseryman in Weener, northwest Germany, for propagation. Plants from these seeds were cultivated around 1904 in Hesse’s nursery (Beissner 1908). Exochorda giraldii was first described by Hesse from what appears to have been a chance seedling with unique characteristics that were not typical of the plant in the wild. Hesse described his plants in 1908 in a note in German: under the name E. giraldii, he refers to a species ‘developed’ by Giraldi in China from seeds he collected (Eine neue, von Pater Giraldi … entstandene Art), and that Hesse has seen in his own plants petals that are ‘split’ (geschlitzten) and ‘cherry-red spotted’ (kirschrot gefleckten), as well as small flowers of ‘other colours’ (Hesse 1908). The Latin protologue included in the same publication mentions rounded or obovate leaves and large flowers to 6 cm across, and describes the white petals as laciniate and red-spotted (laciniatis, rubro-maculatis) (Schwerin (ed) 1908). The following year, Hesse published a fuller account, raving about ‘A completely new, still unknown, nowhere to be found species developed by Father Giraldi.’ He mentions pink young shoots, pinkish-red petioles, veins, and terminal tips that retain their colour, large flowers with partly slit petals, broad and narrowing to a claw at the base, and bracts that are cherry-red inside. He concludes this is ‘Eine wirkliche großartige Seltenheit’ (a truly magnificent rarity) and announces that among the seedlings he has found one with double flowers (Hesse 1909). While the description of the leaves, which were earlier compared to Cotinus by Beissner (1908), matches current plants in this taxon, the laciniate, red-spotted petals seem to have been lost (which some might consider a blessing!). Double flowers are sometimes reported on the cultivar ‘The Bride´ (see below).

When Rehder published Exochorda racemosa in 1913, he included Hesse’s plant as a variety of it. In his description, he maintains the distinctive features of slender red petioles, but remarks that the reference to ‘rubro-maculata’ petals in the original description was apparently an error, as the petals are normally white (Sargent 1913). In an article published the following year in the same German journal where Hesse had published his description, Rehder described the plant as E. giraldii, with petals often incised or slashed and narrower, tapering more gradually to the claw, resulting in the corolla being more open in the center, allowing the sepals, which are usually reddish on the inside, to be visible (Rehder 1914). According to Bean (1916), it was introduced to England in 1909 and is distinguished by the pink young shoots and persistently pinkish petioles and leaf veins. He mentioned the red margin on the calyx, but the petals were described as pure white. The type specimen, collected in Shaanxi by Giraldi in 1897, bears fruit but no flowers. It is not clear it is the type corresponding to Hesse’s publication, which seems to be based on his own cultivated plants.

Despite the confusion surrounding the original description of this taxon, the current consensus is that subsp. giraldii (or E. giraldii in Flora of China) applies to the plants found in Northwest and Central China, bearing larger flowers, usually with reddish petioles, but with greenish ones in the case of those found in the southern part of the distribution, which correspond to var. wilsonii.

The petals of Exochorda racemosa susp. giraldii taper gradually to the base, forming a long claw. The Arnold Arboretum, Massachusetts, USA, 1 May 2025. Image Kyle Port/Arnold Arboretum.

The long-clawed petals of Exochorda racemosa subsp. giraldii early in the flowering season, with a seed capsule from previous year. The Arnold Arboretum, 23 April 2012. Image Kyle Port/Arnold Arboretum.

The racemes of Exochorda racemosa subsp. giraldi can reach up to 11 cm in length. The Arnold Arboretum, 23 April 2012. Image Kyle Port/Arnold Arboretum.

var. wilsonii (Rehder) Rehder

First introduced from seed collected by Wilson in 1907 in western Hubei (Wilson 397) and cultivated in the Arnold Arboretum. A 1916 account reported that in cultivation the variety, which in habitat is a wide-spreading shrub, grew like a tree with a single straight stem and relatively short branches, forming a narrow pyramidal head (Arnold Arboretum 1916). According to Rehder, the plants were larger in every part and more vigorous, with flowers open in the centre due to the longer and narrower claws of the petals; some of the flowers on plants from this collection were occasionally tinged pink (Sargent 1913). Plants from Wilson 397 were also grown at Kew from material received in 1913. They were described by Taylor (1986) as distinguished by the uniform bright green foliage and the petioles and midveins not tinged with red, as in typical subsp. giraldii var. giraldii.

A notable specimen of var. wilsonii grows at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts, where it has reached 5.5 m tall and around 6.5–7.5 m wide. When in full flower, it visually dominates the immediate location where it stands (Gorman 2025). For Dirr (2009), this was the finest Exochorda he had observed. Given that plants from Wilson 397 were growing in other gardens in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1916, this plant may be of the same origin (Arnold Arboretum 1916).

A functionally male plant of Exochorda racemosa subsp. giraldii var. wilsonii, with well-developed stamens. The Arnold Arboretum, Massachusetts, USA, 8 May 2021. Image William (Ned) Friedman/Arnold Arboretum.

Exochorda fruits are turbinate capsules with five spines, arranged starwise, here still unripe on a plant of Exochorda racemosa subsp. giraldii var. wilsonii. The Arnold Arboretum, 31 August 2014. Image William (Ned) Friedman/Arnold Arboretum.

Exochorda racemosa subsp. giraldii var. wilsonii in full bloom at Arnold Arboretum, 6 May 2017. Image William (Ned) Friedman/Arnold Arboretum.

subsp. racemosa

The autonymous subspecies is the best known and is widely cultivated. It has a disjunct distribution, with populations in Eastern China and Central Asia, presumed to be a relict of a former wide, continuous distribution pattern. Plants referred to as E. korlokowii, E. alberti, and E. tianshanica correspond to the Central Asian populations and belong here (Gao 1998).

In contrast to the other subspecies, this is not suitable for shallow chalk soil (Edwards & Marshall (eds) 2019). For other details on introduction to cultivation and horticultural characteristics, see species article.

Exochorda racemosa subsp. racemosa in flower. The Arnold Arboretum, Massachusetts, USA,1 May 2025. Image William (Ned) Friedman/Arnold Arboretum.

Branches on a mature plant of Exochorda racemosa subsp. racemosa at the Arnold Arboretum, May 20, 2021. Image Bob Mayer/Arnold Arboretum.

The five-sided fruit of Exochorda racemosa subsp. racemosa. The Arnold Arboretum, 3 August 2023. Image William (Ned) Friedman/Arnold Arboretum.

The fruit of Exochorda racemosa subsp. racemosa turns purplish-brown when ripe. Here still unripe on 3 August 3, 2023, at the Arnold Arboretum. Image William (Ned) Friedman/Arnold Arboretum.

Exochorda racemosa subsp. racemosa forms a large shrub up to 5 m tall. The Arnold Arboretum, April 23, 2012. Image Kyle Port/Arnold Arboretum.

Uprights racemes of Exochorda racemosa subsp. racemosa. The Arnold Arboretum, May 11, 2007. Image Bob Mayer/Arnold Arboretum.

Exochorda korolkowii (here treated as a synonym of Exochorda racemosa subsp. racemosa) (RHS Garden Wisley, UK, April 2023). Image John Grimshaw.

Exochorda korolkowii (here treated as a synonym of Exochorda racemosa subsp. racemosa) (RHS Garden Wisley, UK, April 2023). Image John Grimshaw.

subsp. serratifolia (S.Moore) F.Y.Gao & Maesen

This is the only subspecies that is native to the Korean Peninsula, hence the common name; it is also found in northeastern China. It is distinguished from the other subspecies principally by the leaves, which have a serrated margin above the middle. It also is better adapted to cooler climates, as befits its more northern distribution. It has been the subject of several studies in Korea. Lee et al. (1987) found that plants transplanted into shaded environments performed well, leading them to suggest it could be cultivated as a shade-tolerant landscape plant.

Unlike subsp. racemosa, subsp. serratifolia thrives on shallow chalk. According to The Hillier Manual, it forms an elegant, medium-sized bush and flowers freely (Edwards & Marshall (eds) 2019). For Dirr, however, it was ‘the least impressive in flower’ in comparison to other Pearlbushes at the Arnold Arboretum (Dirr 1998).

It was described as E. serratifolia in 1878 by S. Moore, who in addition to the serrated leaf margins pointed to the longer and comparatively narrower petals as characters that made the taxon ‘abundantly distinct’ from E. racemosa, at the time the only other species in the genus (Moore 1877–1879). The type specimen was collected in Liaoning in 1876 (Gao 1998). Dirr (1998) gives 1918 as the year of introduction, but this is not corroborated in other sources.

The epithet serratifolia derives from Latin and means saw-toothed leaf: from serratus (‘serrated’ from serra = ‘saw’) + folium (‘leaf’) (wiktionary.org 2025).

Exochorda racemosa subsp. serratifolia in flower at the Arnold Arboretum, Massachusetts, USA, April 30, 2017. Image Meng Li/Arnold Arboretum.

According to the original descriptions, Exochorda racemosa subsp. serratifolia has petals that are narrower than the type. The Arnold Arboretum, 30 April 2017. Image Meng Li/Arnold Arboretum.

For Dirr, Exochorda racemosa subsp. serratifolia was the least impressive of the Pearlbushes in flower at the Arnold Arboretum. It is a high bar (see subspp. giraldii and racemosa, above, and the cultivar 'The Bride', below). April 30, 2017. Image Meng Li/Arnold Arboretum.

The Cultivars

Numerous cultivars of Exochorda have been selected, some of more-or-less known parentage, while in others this is far from clear. We treat them all here as unattributed cultivars, with an indication of ancestry where known.

The familiar name Exochorda × macrantha disappears in the Gao (1998) treatment of the genus adopted here. Information about its origins will be found under the entry for ‘The Bride’.

The Cultivars
'Bailmoon'

A selection of compact, upright, mounded habit, with white blooms that completely cover the plant. Bred by Don Selinger and introduced in 2013 by Bailey Nurseries in Minnesota, USA, under the trade designation LOTUS MOON^TM, part of the registered trademark FIRST EDITIONS^® (Bailey Nurseries 2021).

The flowers of Exochorda racemosa 'Bailmoon' have narrower petals than other varieties, which gives them a starlike appearance. Image Milan Havlis.

Exochorda racemosa 'Bailmoon' has a compact, upright, mounded habit, Image Milan Havlis.

The Cultivars
'Blizzard'

Raised by Tom Ranney of North Carolina State University, this selection is distinguished by its compact size and larger flower diameter. It is a cross between subsp. serratifolia and ‘The Bride’ (see below), thus combining the genetics of populations from the western limit of the distribution of the species in Central Asia (from the female parent of ‘The Bride’) with those from the eastern limit in the Korean Peninsula. It is extremely floriferous with flowers that can be twice as large as other Pearlbushes (5–6.4 cm in diameter). Selected in 2003 and patented in 2013. Molecular analysis showed that ‘Blizzard’ is polyploid, with a genome approximately double the size of its parents (Ranney 2013). It is traded under the trademark PROVEN WINNERS^® SNOW DAY^® registered by Spring Meadows Nursery, Grand Haven, Michigan.

Excochora racemosa 'Blizzard' has flowers that can be twice as large as those of other Pearlbushes. Image Paul Snyder, Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine, Ohio State University.

Excochora racemosa 'Blizzard' is extremely floriferous. Image Paul Snyder, Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine, Ohio State University.

The Cultivars
'Huibl'

A selection with buds tinged with pink, though the flowers are pure white, blooming along the whole branch. Leaves and flowers are larger than normal, and the plant has an upright habit. Bred by Nico Huisman of Huisman Boomkwekerij, Boskoop, the Netherlands, and introduced in 2018. Patented in 2021 and offered under the trade designation BLUSHING PEARL^TM (Tax 2024; Zahradnicví Safro milan davis 2025).

The buds of Exochorda racemosa 'Huibl' are tinged with pink; the flowers, however, are pure white. Image Martin Havlis.

The Cultivars
'Irish Pearl'

An old cultivar, raised from seed at National Botanic Gardens Glasnevin, Dublin, before 1933, from a cross between what was then E. giraldii var. wilsonii and E. racemosa. It features 8–10 flowers on each raceme, about 4–5 cm in diameter, closely arranged on the very long stems (50–90 cm long). It is listed as an Irish Heritage Plant, but it has been extinct for about a decade (S. O’Brien pers. comm. 2025). In a 2015 listing, only one nursery in Ireland was offering it (Irish Garden Plant Society 2015; Nelson 2000; Gao 1998; Dirr 2009).

The Cultivars
'Kolmasprit'

A cultivar of compact, upright habit, forming a narrowly vase-shaped shrub. It is distinguished by the fact that it flowers from top to bottom of the plant on old and new wood, so it will bloom abundantly even without pruning. In addition to flowering in spring, it is said to often produce a second flush in summer. Bred in 2013 by Peter Rudolf Koster of Boskoop, the Netherlands, and sold under the trade name MAGICAL^® SPRINGTIME. Patented in Europe in 2016 (Zahradnictví Safro milan havlis 2025; Sapho – des plantes de bonne nature 2025)

Exochorda racemosa 'Kolmasprit' blooms abundantly even without pruning. Image Milan Havlis.

The Cultivars
'Niagara'

Raised by Herman Geers of Boskoop, the Netherlands, this selection has a compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding habit. It bears cascades (hence the name?) of white flowers and is said to be easy to propagate. It originated as a backcross of ‘The Bride’ with an unnamed selection of subsp. racemosa as the pollen parent (Geers 2009). It can be seen as an improvement on ‘The Bride’, which is difficult to propagate and has a tendency to flop as a young plant (Wood 2010). In the United States, it is sold under the tradename SNOW DAY® SURPRISE, included in Spring Meadows Nursery’s registered trademark.

Exochora racemosa 'Niagara' has a compact, mounding habit. Image Milan Havlis.

The flowers of Exochorda racemosa 'Niagara' can reach 5 cm in diameter. Image Paul Snyder, Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine, Ohio State University.

Exochorda racemosa 'Niagara' bears cascades of white flowers. Image Paul Snyder, Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine, Ohio State University.

The Cultivars
'Northern Pearls'

A selection of subsp. serratifolia introduced in 1995 by Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, bred for cold hardiness and Minnesotan winters. According to Stewart (2011), it is hardy to USDA Zone 3. Slightly smaller than other cultivars, about 1.5 to 2.2 m tall (Cappiello 2009).

The Cultivars
'Snow Mountain'

Raised by Herman Greers of Boskoop, the Netherlands, as a cross between ‘The Bride’ as female parent and an unnamed selection of subsp. racemosa as the male parent. Distinguished by being very floriferous with flowers growing from the base to the tip of each branch, and from the lowest branch to the top. It has an upright, compact habit, up to 1.6 m, and is easy to propagate from softwood cuttings. Bred in 1994 and selected in 1997; patented in the United States in 2015 (Geers 2015; Herman Geers dwerg & miniatuurplanten 2025).

The Cultivars
'Snow White'

A selection of subsp. serratifolia, with a rounded, dense habit, supported by slightly arched branches, reaching 2.5 m on average, but taller on fertile soils (Promesse des Fleurs 2025). According to Gao (1998), it boasts ‘purest white flowers’ and was listed in a 1997 catalogue by Esveld Nursery, Boskoop, the Netherlands, though it is not clear where it originated.

Exochorda racemosa 'Snow White' (The Hutts Himalayan Garden, Grewelthorpe, North Yorkshire, UK, April 2025). Image John Grimshaw.

The Cultivars
'The Bride'

This well-known cultivar was selected by Grootendorst nursery in Boskoop, the Netherlands, around 1938 (Phillips & Rix 1989). It is a selection of what was called Exochorda × macrantha, a hybrid of two formerly recognised species: E. alberti and E. grandiflora. E. alberti, a synonym of E. korolkowii, was applied to plants from Central Asia, while E. grandiflora is a synonym of what is now known as E. racemosa subsp. racemosa. The hybrid was raised by Victor Lemoine of France around 1900 and first published in his nursery’s catalogue in 1902 as E. alberti macrantha (Schneider 1906; Gao 1998). He fertilised E. alberti with pollen of E. grandiflora, breeding ‘a shrub of great beauty, producing a raceme of flowers from every bud of the previous year’s growth’ (Bean 1916).

‘The Bride’ is a small to medium-sized dense bush of weeping habit (Edwards & Marshall (eds) 2019). It reaches around 1.2 m × 1.2 m, sometimes taller, and according to Gao (1998) it is the only known genotype with pendulous branches. For Dirr (2009), it is ‘typically somewhat floppy, loose and stringy’, and he suggests it could be improved by breeding a plant with a more compact, uniform habit (the cultivar ‘Niagara’ may have done just that, see above). According to Gao (1998), the cultivar is functionally female, which she remarks is ‘very appropriate for a bride.’ Its abundant late spring bloom, with masses of large white flowers, reminiscent presumably of a bridal dress or wreath, seems to test for some the limits of good taste: it has been referred to as ‘some sort of crass class-less hawthorn alternative that is somehow “too white”’ (Ballyrobert Gardens 2025). Given its popularity in gardens, this appears to be a minority view. It received the Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

'A shrub of great beauty,' according to Bean. Exochorda racemosa's gorgeous white flowers at the Arnold Arboretum, Massachusetts, USA, 6 May 2017. Image William (Ned) Friedman/Arnold Arboretum.

Exochorda racemosa 'The Bride' has a somewhat weeping habit, with pendulous branches, here laden cascades of white flowers at the Arnold Arboretum, 16 May 2020. Image William (Ned) Friedman/Arnold Arboretum.

Exochorda racemosa 'The Bride' adorns a building in the campus of Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA. Image Image © Oregon State University — not to be used by any third party without the copyright holder’s permission.

Flowers of Exochorda racemosa 'The Bride' are functionally female, so only the pistils are well developed; Oregon State University campus. Image Image © Oregon State University — not to be used by any third party without the copyright holder’s permission.

Exochorda racemosa 'The Bride' in autumn; Oregon State University campus. Image Image © Oregon State University — not to be used by any third party without the copyright holder’s permission.