Spireas

Spireas are treasured by gardeners for their form, flowers and relatively easy cultivation. They can be used as a specimen plant, as a hedge or screen or within a flowering shrub border. They are among the easiest flowering shrubs to grow. Spireas prefer partial to full sun, though those planted in full sun and in open areas will flower more profusely. Spireas are tolerant of most soils except those that are extremely wet. After planting, spread mulch to prevent weeds and to help retain soil moisture. Water through the summer, especially during hot and dry periods.

Spireas are fast growing shrubs and, depending on its use, may need frequent pruning. Spireas used within a foundation planting may become too large quickly, however, those planted in a informal shrub border can grow freely with little maintenance.

Pruning

To prune, thin old and weak canes to the ground annually. Prune the summer-blooming variety of spireas in winter or early spring. They generally need less severe pruning than bridal wreath spireas. After flowers fade, remove them and a second flush of growth is stimulated, which will result in additional flowers. After flowering has finished, prune the mostly spring-blooming, bridal wreath spireas.

Spireas transplant readily in the spring or fall. Spring or fall are also the best times to plant new shrubs. Follow standard planting instructions for best results.

Types of Spireas

There are two distinct kinds of spireas: the bridal wreath type, with clusters of white flowers on arching branches in spring; and the shrubby, much lower-growing type, which has pink, red or white flowers clustered at the end of upright branches in summer to fall.

Spirea vary wildly in terms of size. Vanhoutte spirea (S. vanhouttei), the classic white flowering bridal wreath spirea, is a deciduous broadleaf shrub that can grow 6 to 10 feet high and spread as much as 20 feet wide. Bumalda Spireas on the other hand, are all low, shrubby spireas which grow 2 to 3 feet tall and slightly wider and have pink or white flowers depending on the variety.

Other spireas include:

Japanese spirea is an upright shrubby spirea to 4 to 6 feet tall, with sharply toothed, oval, green leaves and flat clusters of pink flowers.

Baby’s breath spirea is a showy, graceful shrub, 3 to 5 feet high, with many slender, arching branches. The small, narrow, toothed leaves turn orange in late fall. The tiny white flowers are clustered in the axils along the stems. More than any other spirea, it has a feathery appearance.

Cultivars And Varieties

Bumalda spireas:

• Anthony Waterer grows to a height of only 3 feet and has reddish-pink umbrella shaped flowers which form on the tips of the branches. The foliage is maroon-colored.
• Coccinea is like Anthony Waterer but grows to 2 feet and has brighter flowers.
• Goldflame has brilliant fall foliage that turns from green to yellow to bronze and orange. The flowers are crimson.
• Goldmound reaches only 1to 3 feet and has yellow to chartreuse foliage and pink flowers.

Japanese spireas:

• Alpina also called daphne spirea, is a very low (to 1 foot) mound with pink flowers and foliage that turns red and orange in fall.
• Magic Carpet grows to 2 feet tall and has reddish bronze new growth and chartreuse to yellow older foliage. The flowers are pink.

 

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