Spirea

Spireas are small to medium deciduous shrubs producing cascades of flowers in spring and summer.

About This Plant

Among easiest flowering shrubs. Used in foundations, hedges, perennial gardens. Most bloom late spring to midsummer. Colors: pink, red, yellow, white. Some have colorful fall foliage. Size 2–10 feet. Low bumald (S. bumalda) and Japanese (S. japonica) versatile. Vanhoutte (S. vanhouttei), classic bridal wreath, 10x20 feet—give room. Masses of white clusters in spring.

Special Features

• Easy care / low maintenance

Planting Instructions

Spring or fall. Space 2–15 feet per mature size. Hole as deep as rootball, 2–3x wide. Poor soil: amend removed soil with little compost; else don't amend. Set plant, backfill halfway, firm, water. Finish backfill, water. Form soil berm at hole perimeter to hold water.

Care

Spring: compost to dripline + 2-inch mulch. Water if rainfall <1 inch/week. Deadhead for possible second bloom. Most prune after flowering for height/shape. Japanese and bumald: prune early spring for best flowering. Remove dead/diseased/broken anytime. Can be severely pruned—will regrow and flower.