Spirea is an Excellent Shrub For Landscaping

The spirea, a member of the rose family, is a shrub that’s prized for its profusion of flowers that appear in spring and summer. Besides its beauty, spirea is an easy shrub to grow. If it is placed in full sun, spirea can prosper in any soil that drains well. It is often seen in a herbaceous border and can also be grown as a hedge. The smallest cultivars can be tucked into rock gardens or serve as a ground cover. Spirea does best in hardiness zones 3 to 8. Cultivars include:

Bridal Wreath Spirea

A native of China, Korea and Taiwan, Bridal Wreath Spirea is a plant of sunny hillsides and can thrive at altitudes up to 4921 feet. It’s a favorite of gardeners and has an open habit with graceful, arching branches. It grows from between 6 to 9 feet tall and has toothed, shiny dark green leaves and double white flowers which appear before the plant leafs. The flowers are borne in clusters along the length of its stems. This habit gives the shrub its name, for it resembles the bouquets carried by brides. It’s also appreciated for its fall color.

Pink Spirea

Pink spirea is native to many parts of the world, from Ireland to Scotland and east to Siberia, Korea and Japan and even to the Appalachian Mountains. It tends to have an upright habit and grows 3 to 5 feet high and 5 to 6 feet wide. This shrub also has pleasing magenta colored foliage in the fall. Another attribute is that it starts to flower early in its life and is known for its long season. Gardeners prefer to grow it at the edge of a wildflower garden.

It is a good idea when growing pink spirea to dead head it to encourage the continuous growth of its flowers. Most spireas are hardy to as much as - 4 degrees Fahrenheit