Exochorda x macrantha 'The Bride'

Commonly known as pearl bush, Exochorda x macrantha 'The Bride' is a hugely popular deciduous shrub, and with good reason. In late spring and early summer it's awash with masses of pure white flowers.

It's often planted alone along a wall or in the garden as a specimen shrub, but it also combines well with other plants in the border, such as Clematis alpina or Clematis macropetala, which can be grown through the shrub to beautiful effect.

For best results, grow Exochorda x macrantha 'The Bride' in full sun in moist, well-drained soil. It's important that it is pruned right after flowering, to ensure a good show of flowers the following year. Do this by cutting back each flowering stem by half their length, after blooming has ended. Exochorda x macrantha 'The Bride' has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).