help me get proper identification, please

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twinkielee Minden, LA Mar 12, 2008

I have researched several shrubs which Granny called "bridal wreath", but it is not my plant. My plant is a perennial, 3-5 foot shrub with willowy branches that bear tiny single white flowers and tiny slick shiny leaves in early spring. I live in Louisiana. Weigelas have veined, "soft", much larger and numerous leaves. Spireas seem to have clusters of blossoms. The bloom on my plant is smaller than a pencil eraser, five petals, and appear to occur all around the stems which are up to 3 or 4 feet long. This shrub used to be found as a border planting at old houseplaces. It is a very "airy" plant. Believe it or not, I worked for the state's Department of Agriculture for many years and have never found a photo or the proper name for this lovely old ornamental. Thanks for you help.













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gardengus Flora, IN(Zone 5a) Mar 12, 2008

any chance of a photo? there are many different Spireas

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Len123 Adrian, MO(Zone 6a) Mar 12, 2008

bridal wreath spirea
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/64375/

van houte spirea
http://butterflywebsite.com/articles/msu/visuals/spivaa1h.jpg

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NatureLover1950 Vicksburg, MS(Zone 8a) Mar 12, 2008

Sure sounds like the very old fashioned shrub I've only heard called a "button bush." Sorry that's the only name I have for it. I dug one up from the old rent house hubby and I lived in while we built our current home. It's planted down by the creek and bloomed for the first time this year. It was quite small when I dug it up and is now about 3 years old.

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gardengus Flora, IN(Zone 5a) Mar 12, 2008

Your description sounds like the Thunberg Spirea ''Mt Fuji''
There is a good photo of the individual blooms in the plant files.

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plantfreak78 Rolesville, NC(Zone 7b) Mar 14, 2008

There are at least four species of Spiraea in the south that I've heard people refer to as "Bridal Wreath"
S. cantoniensis 'Lanceata'
S. thunbergii
S. prunifolia
S. x vanhouttei

Also, lots of double cultivars have replaced the old-fashioned versions so a lot of the pictures you see on the internet don't quite represent what the plants used to look like. I still think your description sounds like a Spiraea.

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