
While Goldmound Spirea has long been a shrub considered to be a old standard for placing some vibrant leaf color in our landscapes, some people consider spireas in general to be too old fashioned. I differ, viewing spireas as hardy and reliable shrubs that can serve a useful function and provide several types of beauty throughout the season, with few problems.
Deb and I have enjoyed a garden border planting of Goldmound Spirea at our home for over twenty years, and have necessitated little more than an annual pruning each spring as we clean up the landscape after a long Minnesota winter. The yearly pruning stimulates a strong flush of bright gold new shoots that light up the planting bed where they sever as the backdrop for a drift of annuals where we plant a different variety each year to keep things fresh. We never tire of the beautiful gold foliage of the Goldmound Spirea as it contrasts with the annuals.
Goldmound can be grown in full to part sun, grows to a height and width of about 3′. Zone 4 hardy. In early summer the Goldmound Spirea will sport beautiful dainty pink flower clusters. Once the flowers have faded, a light pruning will generate a modest second round of blossoms later in the summer!