May bushes that flower in September in the Southern Hemisphere!
- May bushes are ornamental, shrubby plants that belong to the genus Spiraea , that has 80 to 100 species and has its origins in the word ‘wreath’ in Greek.
- The scientific name of the common May bush is Spiraea cantoniensis, which is native to south east China, although other species of Spiraea are native to the Northern Hemisphere, particularly eastern parts of Asia.
- In the Northern Hemisphere, May bushes bloom in May, and thus they are named ‘May bushes’.
- May bushes are from the family rosaceae, which is the family of roses.
- May bushes are deciduous and typically have green leaves 2.5 to 10 centimetres (1 to 4 inches) in length, and the shrub grows up to 2.5 metres (8 feet) in height.
- May bushes contain salicylic acid, which has aided the development of the pain killer Asprin.
- May bush flowers are very small and have five petals that are generally white, but other species have red, yellow, pink or purple flowers.
- ‘May bushes’ are also known as ‘bridal wreaths’, due to the historical use of the bushes’ branches as wreaths.
- May bushes like being in full sunlight and growing in moist soil.
- May bushes usually have long arching branches which are covered in Spring in white flowers, although they are often grown in hedges, and can be trimmed and shaped effectively.
Bibliography:
Dudman P, May Bush for Spring, 2006, The Garden Guru, <http://www.thegardenguru.com.au/content/File/79_may_bush.htm>
Spiraea, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiraea>
