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Spireas

There is such an amazing array of spirea available to use in the landscape that the choices can be overwhelming. In fact, there are over 80 species and some of those species have dozens of varieties. There are many old-fashioned favorites among the spirea as well as many newly developed favorites. In fact, some varieties have been used in gardens for over 300 years. A member of the rose family, spireas are tough plants. Distinguished by their size, bloom color and season of bloom, spireas all have small leaves and fine, twiggy branches. Once established, they are drought tolerant.

How to Grow Spirea
Like all plants, they will grow their best when planted in the site they prefer. Ideally, they should be planted in well-drained soil that has lots of organic matter. But spirea have an added value of being able to tolerate some of the worst urban soils. They will even tolerate compacted clay soils. The one thing all spirea do need is lots of light. To bloom their best, they really need full sun. When planted in partial shade, they will be more open and bloom less. The exception are the varieties with yellow foliage. They will take more shade. Even though spirea are often planted in hedges or mass plantings, they need to be carefully spaced. They don't do well when they are crowded.

Spireas are not heavy feeders but will profit from a yearly dose of a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10. They need to be kept evenly moist when they are newly planted but once established, they can be ignored unless we are experiencing a drought. Most varieties of spireas are extremely winter hardy and do not require any special protection.

Pruning spirea is easy if you think about when the specific variety blooms. Those that bloom early in the spring such as Bridalwreath and Snowmound should be pruned right after they flower because they bloom on old wood. Spring bloomers are usually trimmed for shape and to contain the size. Like lilacs, they can become woody and unproductive as they age. In that case, the oldest stems can be cut out at the base of the plant to encourage new growth. Summer-blooming varieties such as all of the Spirea japonica and S. bumalda should be pruned in early spring. They bloom on new growth. To keep them full, summer-blooming varieties are often pruned back hard, removing 1/2 or more of their growth. The fading flowers of summer-blooming varieties can also be pruned off if you find them unsightly.

Details About Some of the Best Spireas
There are dozens of species of spireas and lots more varieties. If you have questions about a spirea you don't see listed here, just ask one of our horticulturists.

Billiard S. x billiardii Grows 6-8' tall and wide; upright habit; suckers; flowers open rose and fade to pink; flowers in slender panicles; blooms in May; does not like alkaline soils; hardy to Zone 3.
Bridalwreath Spirea prunifolia Grows 10-12' tall x 6-8' wide; arching branches covered with white flowers in early spring.
Dwarf Garland S. x arguta Grows 3' tall and wide; mounded habit; flowers are white in small umbels; blooms in May; hardy to Zone 4.
Goldmound S. x 'Goldmound' Grows 18-24" tall x 2-3' wide; flowers are pink; blooms in June and July; foliage is a bright yellow-gold; hardy to Zone 4.
Grefshiem S. cineria 'Grefshiem' Grows 5-6' tall and wide; arching branches covered with white blooms early in spring before the leaves emerge; hardy to Zone 4.
Fairy Queen S. trilobata 'Fairy Queen' Grows 3' tall and wide; arching branches; white blooms in early spring.
Fritschiana S. fritschiana Grows 2-3' tall x 3-4' wide; white flowers; blooms in late spring; purplish fall color.
Japanese White S. albiflora Grows 2' tall and wide; mounded habit; flowers are white in flat corymbs; flowers on new wood; blooms in mid-summer; adaptable to most soils; hardy to Zone 3.
Halwards Silver S. nipponica 'Halwards Silver' Grows 2-3' tall x 2-4' wide; white flowers in May; arching branches; slightly hardier, more compact version of Snowmound.
Snowmound S. nipponica 'Snowmound' Grows 3-4' tall x 3-4' wide; pure white flowers in early May.
Snowwhite S. trilobata 'Snowwhite' Grows 4' tall x 3-4' wide; pure white blooms in May and June; a compact version of Vanhoutte spirea.
Vanhoutte S. x vanhouttei This is one of the best-loved old-fashioned blooming shrubs; grows 6-8' tall and wide; pure white blooms on arching branches; blooms in early June; hardy to Zone 3.
Vanhoutte Renaissance S. trilobata 'Renaissance' All the same details as regular Vanhoutte but it is more disease resistant.

© Bachman's 1999
Author: Margaret Purcell and Mary Henry, Horticulturists