Looking for a reliable, versatile shrub that doesn’t fail to perform? How about a low-maintenance option to fill out garden beds and borders? Or maybe you want to create definition along pathways or make a low hedge? No matter what you need, there may indeed be a spirea for that. Here are some of our favorite ways to use spirea:
Use a larger variety as a dramatic stand-alone specimen. Renaissance Bridal Wreath is a beautiful cascading variety that blooms in spring and gets about 6 feet tall and wide. The fresh white blooms cover every inch of the stems in spring and put on an incredible show. Snowmound is another variety with white flowers in spring in a slightly smaller, but no less showy, package. Growing 4-5 feet tall and wide, the upright arching stems make it an elegant choice.
Use small to medium varieties to divide garden rooms, create low hedges, and define pathways. We love the Double Play Doozie with its brilliant deep red spring foliage and fuzzy bright purple flowers. Double Play Big Bang is another charming choice with big pink flowers and fresh light green foliage. Magic Carpet has bright yellow-green foliage and pink flowers, followed by excellent russet fall color.
Incorporate small or medium varieties into a mixed border. Goldmound is a charming variety that adds a pop of bright color with golden spring foliage that ages to yellowish green in summer. Double Play Candy Corn features new growth that comes out in candy apple red. This vibrant red matures to a bright yellow as the summer unfolds, but new growth continues to emerge in orangey tones.
Layer small to medium varieties into a foundation planting along with other shrubs. Their polite habit and size make them excellent choices for near the house. Tor birchleaf spirea incorporates nicely into foundation plantings and blooms in spring with cute white flowers. Looks particularly great at the end of the season with fiery orange, golden, and red fall color.
How to Grow Spirea
Spirea isn’t fussy about soil type or pH but do make sure soil is well-drained since they don’t appreciate soggy soil.It’s important to water regularly until established but once mature, spirea is quite drought tolerant. They can tolerate a bit of shade, but form, color, and flowering will all be better in a full sun location. Major pruning can be performed in late winter and early spring to reshape and refresh. On large, overgrown plants, remove dead or damaged branches and thin congested areas in the center of the shrub. After the initial flowering in spring, a light shearing often encourages a flush of fresh new growth.
We’ve got a great selection of spirea including those featured above and many more. We’re happy to help you find the best variety for your landscape and answer all of your burning spirea questions. Happy planting!
