Spiraea japonica

Spiraea japonica

Common name: Japanese spirea

Family: Rosaceae

Leaf: up to 3" long are oval and sharply toothed

Flowers: pink flowers in flat-topped clusters (corymbs) cover the foliage from late spring to mid-summer, with sparse and intermittent repeated bloom sometimes occuring. Butterflies are attracted to them.

Habit: dense, upright deciduous shrub; Form: mounded

Height: 4-6'; Spread: 5-7'

Culture: Plant in full sun to part sun. Needs consistent moisture and well-drained soils. Does tolerate a wide range of soils. Remove faded flower clusters by lightly shearing to encourage additional bloom. Flowers on new wood, so prune in late winter to early spring if needed. Shear down to the ground if you want or cut out old stems. Hardy in USDA zones 3-8.

Uses: Borders, cottage gardens, informal hedge. Incorporates well into foundation plantings.

Origin: Japan, China