Exochorda
Exochorda racemosa 'Magical Springtime'
Exochorda, also known as pearlbush, might be new for some of you – but for those of you who grow it currently you are likely in love with the graceful arching stems of pearl-like buds that open to reveal pristine white star-shaped flowers in early to mid spring. This is another one of those shrubs that has typically been regarded as a landscape shrub that has really earned its place in the cut flower field. Topping out at about 6 feet in height and width, ‘Magical Springtime’ (Bred by Kolster) blooms on both new and old wood and is hardy in USDA zones 5-9. The blooms appear delicate but hold well in a vase, are fragrant, and the plants themselves are hardy and disease tolerant – what else could you ask for in a spring flowering shrub.
Exochorda blooms after Forsythia, but before Philadelphus, extending your flowering branch sesaon. It can be cut in bud and forced to bloom a bit earlier if needed. Magical Springtime may also rebloom, but the first cut will be the best. Exochorda is too delicate to be shipped internationally, making it a perfect crop for the local specialty grower.
Everything You Need to Know
Ordering
What are Bare Roots?
Where we Ship
We ship bare roots to the lower 48 states and Alaska via FedEx. (Sorry, Hawaii!)
When we Ship
All bare roots will ship in March 2026. Specific ship/delivery dates cannot be accommodated. You will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking information as soon as your order has been packed. Clematis will be shipped separately from other bare roots.
Order Minimums
The minimum order is 4 total bundles of any variety, excluding Clematis.
Number of roots per bundle:
Hydrangea - 9 or 16 (see product description)
Clematis - 25
Clematis may be purchased individually, or alongside other bare root items. They will be shipped separately, and therefore do not count towards the 4 item minimum applicable to all other bare roots.
All other products - 10
Active Orders
Order Confirmation
You will receive a confirmation email from info@farmerbailey.com shortly after placing your order.
Substitutions and Shortages
In the unlikely event of a shortage, we will reach out to find a solution; be that a substitution, refund, or a combination thereof.
Cancellations + Order Changes
Order changes, including cancellations, are accepted until February 1, 2026. Farmer Bailey retains a 10% cancellation fee on all canceled orders and order items.
Shipping
Bare Roots will ship via FedEx in the second week of March 2026 (Week 11).
Pricing
4-6 bundles | $25
7-12 bundles | $50
13-18 bundles | $75
*Shipping to Alaska is $75 per box.
Clematis ship at a flat rate of $10 regardless of order size. Clematis may be ordered along with other bare root items, and doing so will add $10 to the shipping charge. So, one box of bare roots plus any Clematis will ship for $35.
Damaged/Missing Items
Mold and minor damage
You may see a bit of mold on the roots, but this is normal. Simply wash it off and plant immediately. As a precaution you can treat the roots with a fungicide or biofungicide, but this isn't necessary. Small broken branches are also of little concern. Just prune off any broken bits and the plant will recover quickly. The root system is the important part at this stage.
Claims
To file a claim, email info@farmerbailey.com within 24 hours of receiving your order; include your 5-digit order number, photos and a description of the issue. Based on the assessment by our Claims Department, we'll issue any necessary refund(s) or replacements, when possible.
Our team may request that you plant the bare roots and report any non-viable plants by June 1st. Farmer Bailey will not accept any bare root claims after June 1st.
***Farmer Bailey is not liable for plants that do not thrive once planted if no claim was filed at the time of delivery.***
What You'll Receive
Bare root woody plants are just that! Plants with bare roots. They are dug from the field where they were grown, are washed and then stored in the perfect climate over the winter months. This process has many benefits.
Soil is heavy and messy to ship. Removing the soil makes it possible to bring in these hard to find plants from Holland where they are grown by the very folks that breed them.
Soil also can harbor insects and pathogens, so removing plants from soil helps satisfy import requirements of the USDA and ensures you are receiving healthy disease free plant material. The plants are harvested in a dormant state and held that way until they are shipped. They won't even know they have changed countries when they wake up in your garden or field in the springtime.
Our woody plants are grown in the field in Holland for 1 year before shipping to you. They are pinched a couple of times during the growing season resulting in a stocky well branched plant that will have a good structure on arrival.
These plants will establish quickly in 2025 and you may be able to start harvesting as soon as 2026 on the faster maturing crops. Height will vary, but in general they will be around 12-16" in height.
What To Do With It
All of these plants will ship to you in March at a time approprate for planting. They will be just coming out of dormancy. You may see swelling buds or a bit of new growth, but in general they will be in a dormant state and may look a little dead. Don't worry! They will wake up.
You may see a bit of mold on the roots but this is completely normal. Simply wash it off and plant immediately. As a precaution you can treat the roots with a fungicide or biofungicide, but this isn't necessary. Small broken branches are also of little concern. Just prune off any broken bits and the plant will recover quickly. The root system is the important part at this stage in the game.
If you can't plant immediately on arrival store your bare roots in the cooler. Keep them damp and wrapped in plastic as dry roots are the kiss of death for this type of product. The cold will delay their growth. Keep them from freezing. You can either pot them into 1 gallon pots or plant them directly into your prepared soil. Just make sure to plant them within a few days of arrival. They are waking up and are ready to grow, and they will decline quickly if they are not given soil, water and sunshine.
If they arrive before you can plant outside or before it is reliably above freezing outdoors, pot them, and put them back into your cooler until spring advances. They will start to grow new roots immediately. When you see new buds on the trees and shrubs outdoors it is time to bring them out.
To be honest I am being overly cautious in my recommendations, but these these plants aren't cheap. They are a long term investment that will pay for themselves many times over if you get them through this brief period of transition. Read the directions and success sure to follow.
It is a carefully orchestrated process to get plants quickly from their storage conditions to you so please do your part and be ready to plant them on arrival. There is no reason that these plants will experience any stress if you prepare for their arrival.
Growing Guides
Click here to access all of our comprehensive growing guides.
| Common Name | Pearlbush, Pearl Bush |
| Genus | Exochorda |
| Species | Various species e.g. E. racemosa, E. giraldii, E. grandiflora, E. Korolkowii |
| Family | Rosaceae |
| Life Cycle | Hardy Deciduous Shrub |
| Format | 4" Pots |
| Plug Care | Plant young shrubs promptly upon arrival. Plants should be dormant and can withstand cold temperatures - if the plants have broken dormancy and below freezing temperatures are forecasted, protect tender new growth. Keep soil evenly moist but well-drained until established; water regularly while new roots are developing and during periods with no rain. |
| Netting / Staking | Not required; stems are usually strong enough for cutting and have a naturally arching composure. |
| Hardiness | Hardiness can vary between cultivars but typically hardy in USDA Zones 4 to 8 for most of the common cultivars. Can likely grow successfully in zone 8 but prefers temperate climates with cool winters for maximum bud set. |
| Spacing | Space 5 feet apart in cut flower production settings. |
| Soil Preference | Adaptable almost all soil types as long as they don't have wet feet especially in the winter. Prefers average, moist, well-drained soils. |
| Sun Requirement | Full sun - tolerant of part shade (full sun increases quality and quantity of blooms and cut material). |
| Pruning | Because Exochorda typically blooms on old wood, avoid heavy pruning until immediately after flowering. |
| When to Plant | Plant in spring swiftly upon arrival. If the plant is still dormant it can withstand below freezing temperatures. If it has broken dormancy, tender new growth needs protection from frost cloth. |
| Harvesting | Harvest in spring as flower buds start to open but before all petals are fully expanded; cut first thing in the morning while plants are hydrated. Stems with clusters of pearl-like buds open nicely in the vase. |
| Post Harvest Care | A tip to avoid air bubbles in the xylem is to recut stems under water and plunge cut stems immediately into clean, cool water. As will any cut flower be sure to remove any leaves that will sit below the waterline. Use a clean vase/bucket and a floral preservative to reduce bacterial growth. Keep stems cool and change water frequently; Exochorda responds well to cold storage in a cooler. |
| Diseases / Insects | Generally low maintenance with very few pests. |
| Bailey's Notes |
Exochorda ‘Magical Springtime’ Exochorda, also known as pearlbush, might be new for some of you – but for those of you who grow it currently you are likely in love with the graceful arching stems of pearl like buds that open to reveal pristine white star-shaped flowers in early to mid spring. This is another one of those shrubs that has typically been regarded as a landscape shrub that has really earned its place in the cut flower field. Topping out at about 6 feet, ‘Magical Springtime’ (Bred by Kolster) blooms on both new and old wood and is hardy in USDA zones 5-8. The blooms appear delicate but hold well in a vase, are fragrant, and the plants are hardy and disease tolerant – what else could you ask for in a flowering shrub. |
| Resources | NA |