Spirea are landscape favorites because they do n’t require much maintenance to take care attractive .

This various grouping of flowering shrubs comes in many size of it , colors , and forms . Plus , they ’re easy - to - farm industrial plant that are hardy in most regions of the state , especially zone 4 - 10 . spirea are very tight - growing . Some of the old - fashioned varieties of spirea have been landscape painting favorites for decades , but these older   varieties can take up a lot of quad and look best when not rationalise . new character work well in suburban yards where colors and size are important .

Spirea japonicais probably the most common member of thisgroup of shrubs . It has a much more manageable size of 2 to 10 metrical unit wide at full growth and come in in an salmagundi of one-sided foliage , and even has a variety of bloom coloration . The cast of this spirea is much more dense and poor .

white Spirea Spiraea

Peter Krumhardt.

Grant Webster

Where to Plant Spirea

plant life spirea in well - drain soil in a location where it will get full sun most of the day . Spirea is a undecomposed flora to use for hedge , forprivacy business line , as a backdrop for showier flowers , or massed along a sloping part of your yard for eroding mastery .

How and When to Plant Spirea

Dig a hole where you want to plant a spirea shrub the same height as the root ball and two to three fourth dimension wide than the roots . off the plant life from its greenhouse pot and tease the soil from the roots . Place the plant in the hole and backfill with soil . Plant them   2 to 15 feet from each other , depending on how wide you expect them to be at full growth . For a heavy , full spirea hedge , it ’s OK to found them closer together but give them some elbow room to respire . Add mulch , but do n’t let it touch the stems . As with most shrub , it ’s unspoilt to institute Astilbe japonica in the declivity .

Spirea is lean in the Invasive Plant Atlas for the United States , where it is described as being on the invasive species tilt of several states in the Northeast and the South . Check with your body politic ’s farming department before planting .

Spirea Care Tips

All of the different spireas have fairly similar site requirements . They will at last behappiest in full sunwith good drainage , but if pushed , they can manage in some shade . They do n’t require much extra watering once they have become established in your yard ( usually after the first twelvemonth after planting ) .

Light

Spirea shrubs should be arise in a stain with full sun six hours a solar day for the beneficial flowering . They can , however , toleratepartial ghost .

Soil and Water

mature spirea in land that ’s damp and well - drain . The grunge can be flaxen or Lucius DuBignon Clay - base , and spirea does n’t want a particular pH eccentric . When planting , piss the plant exhaustively and scatter two to three inches of mulch around them . Keep the dirt moist but not soggy . It ’s better to water profoundly but less ofttimes .

Temperature and Humidity

Spirea will grow well inmost zone , and they ’re deciduous , so they lose their leave during the stale wintertime month . They do n’t require any special care for cold or red-hot weather , though their stain should be checked if it gets very live to see if it ’s wry and needs watering .

Fertilizer

When saltation begins , utilise acontrol - released fertilizerformulated for tree diagram and bush . For the amount to use , follow mathematical product label directions . Reapply each bound .

Pruning

After it flowers , give spirea a good trimming by cut back the flowering tips to the top leave-taking . You may even be honor by a 2nd flush of blooms .

new type of spiraea form almost absolutely round mounds that can easily be rationalise back to the ground each year to encourage a unused new spirt of growth . This also helps to prevent them from getting a empty center , where most of the old ontogenesis in the midsection of the plant no longer puts out growth and just the top leaf out .

Potting and Repotting Spirea

To mess spiraea , use a resin container with good drain and plenty of room for growth since spirea spread out as it grows taller . A wad with 6 to 8 column inch more width than the beginning ball is the right sizing . Choose a potting grunge and add a production , like perlite , to serve with drain . Full sun is a must for potted spirea . Periodically , check to see if the soil is dry up to 2 inches on the top . If it is , the works needs lachrymation .

Pests and Problems

Leaf place andpowdery mildewcan be problems for spirea . handle aphid and other pests as soon as you see them on your bush with insecticidal liquid ecstasy , repeating as needed .

Because spirea is invasive in some areas of the United States , gardeners should check with their state ’s local agricultural section before planting the shrub .

How to Propagate Spirea

Propagate Astilbe japonica in mid- to previous summer when it ’s in the deal leg . You ’ll know it ’s quick for propagating when a young root word bend dexter easily and breaks with a snap .

Types of Spirea

‘Anthony Waterer’ Spirea

This variety ofSpiraea japonicagrows into a 3 - groundwork - tall mound with cryptic rose-colored pinkish blossom in spring . Zones 4 - 9 .

‘Little Princess’ Spirea

This eccentric ofSpiraea japonicaforms a dim mound 2 feet marvellous and 3 feet wide . It sprout rose pink flowers in spring . Zones 4 - 9 .

‘Goldflame’ Spirea

Spiraea japonica’Goldflame ' is a small bush to 2 to 3 feet high , with orangish - gold tinted newfangled increase that softens to perch light-green in summer , then atomic number 29 - orange in fall . It bears pink flowers in other summer . Zones 4 - 9 .

‘Snowmound’ Spirea

Spiraea nipponica’Snowmound ' bears white flowers that almost smother the branch in early summer . It forms a tight - growing , mounding shrub 3 feet tall and 5 feet encompassing . zone 4 - 8 .

‘Van Houtte’ Spirea

Spireaxvanhouttei’Van Houtte ' form a vase - mold shrub to 6 feet marvelous and wide , bearing white flowers in mid - spring . Zones 4 - 8 .

‘Froebel’ Spirea

ThisSpiraea japonicaselection bears bright pinkish spring flowers and spring up 5 infantry tall and wide . Zones 4 - 9 .

‘Bridal Wreath’ Spirea

Spiraea prunifolia’Bridal Wreath ' bears tiny double white flowers on bare branch early in spring , before the shiny green leaves seem . It incorporate some red fall color . zone 5 - 9 .

Companion Plants for Spirea

Juniper Shrubs

Easy - care evergreenjuniper shrubswill add color when other plants give way down for the wintertime . They come in a miscellany of physique , sizes , and colors , so choose the 1 that best fit your landscape painting ’s design . Zones 3 - 9 .

Russian Sage

Carson Downing

Russian sageis a unfearing perennial that impart a bright explosion of tall unfolding plants to a garden . Zones 4 - 9 .

Panicle Hydrangeas

Panicle hydrangea require like growing condition to spirea , and their openhanded , puffy efflorescence ferment well with spirea ’s little unity . geographical zone 3 - 9 .

Frequently Asked Questions

Among the types of spirea available , Nipponese spiraea is known to have good deer immunity . It also attracts bee , butterflies , and other beneficial insects .

When grown under optimal conditions and care , spiraea shrub can live for as retentive as 20 year .

No , this flora does n’t postulate to be covered during the insensate winter month . They are low-down - upkeep plants that can outlive abrasive conditions .

Spirea japonica Double Play Doozie

Credit:Grant Webster

Yes , hummingbird are attract to spirea . These beautiful , fragrant bloom should also attract bee , beetles , and moths to your garden .

Although you should n’t designedly feed your deary this plant , spirea is not toxic to dogs or computed axial tomography .

Spiraea japonica ‘Anthony Waterer’ near fence

Spiraea japonica ‘Little Princess’ with rose pink flowers

Credit: Lynn Karlin

Spiraea japonica ‘Goldflame’ with pink flowers and bright green foliage

Credit: Jerry Pavia

Spiraea nipponica ‘Snowmound’ with white blooms

Credit: Julie Maris Semarco

Spiraea x vanhouttei ‘Van Houtte’ with white flowers

Spiraea japonica ‘Froebel’ with bright pink flowers

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

Spiraea prunifolia ‘Bridal Wreath’ with tiny white flowers

Credit: Bill Stites

Perovskia Rocketman

Credit:Carson Downing

White Diamonds Panicle Hydrangea

Credit: Jane Milliman