Common Pearlbrush

Exochorda racemosa

Found in disturbed areas, woodland borders, suburban woodlands. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), South Central edition What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

Not native to Alabama. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height: 10 feet
Spread: 10–15 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Dry to wet

See native alternatives

Exochorda racemosa — flower photograph — (c) Oleksandr Shynder, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original photograph

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Chickasaw Plum
Prunus angustifolia
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: White.
Similar height, spread, evergreen or deciduous
Rough Leaf Dogwood
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Sun: Full to part sun. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: White.
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Possumhaw Viburnum
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Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Cream or white.
Similar height, spread, evergreen or deciduous

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At a glance

Life cycle: Woody perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: March to April

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Recorded in 4 Alabama counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 3

Wooded scene looking out over partially open fields — Named place / source context. Shown: Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Georgia and Tennessee; which part is not recorded, a neighboring state.Wooded scene looking out over partially open fields, Richard Schlecht, undated. Public domain. Source record.

Trail on Little Kennesaw Mountain. — Named place / source context. Shown: Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Georgia, a neighboring state.Trail on Little Kennesaw Mountain., Unidentified in HFC record, undated. Public domain. Source record.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

—CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AL

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Rosaceae
Hardiness: Zones 4a–8b
Soil pH: Acidic
Flower color: White

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “March to April” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “White” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Hardiness · “Zones 4a–8b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “10 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
primary_flower_color · “white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Dry; Moist; Wet (documented habitat)” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Soil pH · “Acidic” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “10–15 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Conservation status

Alabama rank	Not available
Global rank	G5
AL status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources