Japanese spirea: planting and care, description of varieties. Spiraea Seria japonica shrub

Japanese spirea (lat. Spiraea japonica)- a type of ornamental shrubs of the Rosaceae family, native to China and Japan. In our latitudes, this decorative plant throughout the season has been known for a long time - since 1870. It is used to create borders, hedges and long-flowering groups; low-growing forms are grown in rockeries, rock gardens, mixborders, and they are also grown as a ground cover plant.

• Bloom: in July-August for one and a half months.
• Landing: It is best in early spring, before the sap begins to flow, although it is also possible in October.
• Lighting: in the morning - direct sun, then - bright diffused light.
• The soil: fertile and drained.
• Watering: after planting - frequent and abundant; after rooting, water 2 times a month. Water consumption for an adult bush is up to 15 liters.
• Feeding: In the spring, the tree trunk circle is mulched with compost or peat, and in the fall, the mulch is incorporated into the soil. Mineral fertilizers are applied immediately after pruning, and in mid-summer the tree trunk area is watered with an infusion of fermented mullein with the addition of superphosphate.
• Trimming: sanitary and formative - in May. Anti-aging pruning is also carried out in the spring at the age of four.
• Reproduction: species plants - by seeds, varietal and hybrid plants - by dividing the bush, cuttings and layering.
• Pests: aphids, spider mites, roseate leaf rollers.
• Diseases: not affected.

Read more about growing Japanese spirea below.

Japanese spirea - description

Japanese spirea is a beautiful deciduous shrub up to 2 m in height and in diameter with tomentose-pubescent young shoots that become bare with age, green on the upper side and bluish on the lower oblong-ovate leaves, which when blooming have a reddish tint, and in the fall become variegated color in red and yellow tones. The length of the leaves, arranged alternately and serrated along the edges, is from 2.5 to 7.5 cm. The pink-red flowers of Japanese spirea are collected in complex terminal corymbose-paniculate inflorescences. The flowering of spirea lasts about one and a half months. Seeds up to 2.5 mm long are in small shiny capsules.

Planting Japanese spirea

When to plant Japanese spirea

Like any garden shrub, spirea is planted in early spring or after leaf fall, but summer-flowering species of spirea, which include Japanese spirea, are best planted in early spring, but it is very important to plant before the buds begin to swell on the trees.

When choosing a place to plant Japanese spirea, you should know that this plant is very light-loving, and although three to four hours of direct sun a day is enough for it, the more light there is, the more beautiful the spirea will be. The Japanese spirea shrub is undemanding in terms of soil composition, but in fertile soil it grows better and blooms more luxuriantly.

How to plant Japanese spirea

If you purchased seedlings with an open root system, carefully inspect it: it should not be dry. The shoots of the seedling must be flexible and the buds alive. Remove dry or rotten roots with pruning shears, and shorten healthy ones to 25-30 cm. Before planting, seedlings with a closed root system are watered generously and removed from the container, and if the earthen ball has dried out, place the root system in a bucket of water for an hour or two.

When planning planting, keep in mind that the roots of Japanese spirea grow strongly, so the distance between seedlings should be at least 50 cm. A hole for spirea is dug with steep walls, and its volume should be at least a third larger than the root system of the plant. Before planting, the hole should stand for at least two days, then a drainage layer, for example, stones or broken bricks, is placed on its bottom, then the hole is filled with garden soil mixed with river sand and peat in a 2:1:1 ratio. The roots of the seedling are lowered into the hole, carefully straightened and the remaining space is filled with soil mixture. The root collar of the spirea should be flush with the surface. After planting, the soil around the seedling is compacted and watered with two buckets of water.

Japanese spirea care

Japanese spirea in the spring, immediately after planting, needs frequent and abundant watering. When the plant is established, watering can be reduced to twice a month, spending up to 15 liters of water on each adult bush. Good watering of spirea is especially important during drought and after pruning. Having moistened the soil, it is advisable to loosen the soil in the tree trunk circle, while simultaneously removing weeds.

Every spring, the surface of the soil around the spirea is mulched with a mixture of peat, compost and crushed bark, and in the fall this mulch is embedded in the ground. As for fertilizing, it is very important to add fertilizer to the soil immediately after pruning. Japanese spirea responds well to the introduction of a liquid infusion of fermented mullein into the tree trunk in mid-summer with the addition of 10 g of superphosphate for every 10 liters of infusion.

Pruning of Japanese spirea is carried out in May to give it the correct shape, as well as for sanitary and rejuvenating purposes. Dry, diseased, frozen, small, weak and thickening branches and shoots are cut out, and healthy ones are shortened to large buds. If you need to rejuvenate the bush, do not be afraid to overdo it: heavy pruning stimulates the formation of a large number of healthy young shoots, and if the spirea is not rejuvenated, then the old shoots will begin to droop to the ground over time, and the top of the bush will dry out. The first rejuvenating pruning of Japanese spirea is recommended to be carried out after four years, cutting off the shoots at a height of no more than 30 cm from the ground.

The Japanese spirea bush is very resistant to diseases and pests, but sometimes suffers from aphids, spider mites and roseate leaf rollers. Leaf roller caterpillars, which appear in late spring, damage more than half of the leaves, gnawing holes in them. Aphids, feeding on cell sap, suck it out of the leaves, peduncles and young shoots of spirea. Spider mites are the most dangerous sucking pests, especially active in dry weather. Aphids and mites are destroyed with acaricidal preparations, and leaf-eating pests are destroyed with an insecticide solution. And do not forget that only creating the necessary conditions for the life of a plant and timely care for it can save any plant from diseases and pests.

As you can see, planting Japanese spirea and caring for it is not at all burdensome.

Reproduction of Japanese spirea

Japanese spirea is propagated by generative and vegetative methods, however, for hybrid forms and plant varieties, the seed method is not suitable, and for other varieties, cuttings and propagation of spirea by layering are preferable, since these methods allow you to achieve reliable and quick results with minimal time and labor.

Reproduction of Japanese spirea by layering

In early spring, the lower shoot or root shoot of the spirea is bent to the ground, placed in a trench, secured in this position, leaving the top of the shoot above the surface. This method will allow you to get a single seedling with a well-developed root system by autumn. If you want to get more seedlings, then the top of the shoot should be pinched, and then young shoots will begin to grow from the side buds. In the fall, such cuttings are dug up, divided into parts according to the number of regrown shoots and planted in a permanent place.

Propagation of Japanese spirea by cuttings

Cuttings are the most productive method of propagation, since the survival rate of cuttings is 70% even without the use of growth regulators. The substrate for planting cuttings is prepared from high-moor peat (1 part) and sand (1 or 2 parts). Experienced gardeners prefer to root cuttings in September or October: they select the strongest shoots from the bush, cut them into pieces, each of which should have 4-5 leaves, and the bottom leaf is removed, leaving only the petiole, and the rest are shortened by half. Then the cuttings are soaked in water for 2-3 hours, and before planting, their lower sections are dusted with a root stimulator.

The cuttings are planted at an angle of 45º, immersing them 2 cm into the substrate, after which the cuttings are covered with a transparent cap and placed in the shade. Caring for cuttings during rooting consists of regular watering and spraying. With the onset of cold weather, the cuttings are dug in, covered with leaves on top and covered with an inverted wooden box. In spring or early summer, cuttings are planted in a school for growing, and in the fall they can be planted in a permanent place.

Reproduction of Japanese spirea by seeds

If you are not in a hurry and are not afraid of difficulties, then you should try to grow Japanese spirea from seeds. The seeds of this plant do not need stratification. They can be sown in spring or autumn without any preparation. The substrate for sowing needs approximately the following composition: 4 parts non-acidic peat and 1 part vermiculite. A box or container is used as a container. The seeds are sown on the surface of the substrate without covering it, after which the container is covered with film or glass and placed in the shade of the garden on the western or eastern side. As soon as the shoots appear, the covering is removed, and when the seedlings reach a height of 2 cm, they are picked based on color - by this time it will already be distinguishable. When picking, long roots are pinched by one third and planted in a larger container at a distance of 5-6 cm from each other. The seedlings are kept in the shade of deciduous trees, not forgetting to water them, in the fall they are transplanted to the school bed, and next year they can be planted in a permanent place.

Reproduction of Japanese spirea by dividing the bush

You can propagate spirea by dividing the bush throughout the growing season, but if you do this in the summer, you need cloudy weather to last for at least a week after planting the divisions. The best time for the procedure is August or early September, when the soil is well warmed up and the air is already cool.

The spirea bush is dug up, capturing about 60% of the crown projection. It’s okay if you have to cut off some of the roots. Wash the roots from the ground, straighten them because they are very twisted, and divide into several parts so that each has at least 2-3 strong shoots and a decent root lobe. Shorten the long cord-like roots, treat the cuts with crushed coal and plant the cuttings in pre-prepared holes. After planting, you need to water the spirea every other day if the weather is sunny, and in cloudy weather - at least once a week.

Varieties of Japanese spirea

Japanese spirea has many garden forms and varieties. The most popular of them are:

• Alpina- a low-growing, densely branched shrub with almost round, densely pubescent striped shoots, dark green leaves above and bluish below, and light pink flowers;
• Spiraea japonica Little Princess– a shrub up to 60 cm high with a crown up to 120 cm in diameter. The leaves of this variety are elliptical, dark green, the flowers are red-pink, collected in corymbs with a diameter of 3-4 cm;
• Spiraea japonica Shirobana- also a low chameleon shrub with narrow-lanceolate dark green leaves and flowers, the color of which varies from white to red and pink;
• Spiraea japonica Microphylla reaches a height of 130 and a diameter of 150 cm. It has pink flowers and large swollen wrinkled leaves up to 20 cm long and up to 10 cm wide. When blooming, they are purple-red, green in summer, and golden-yellow in autumn;
• Spiraea japonica Fairlight- bushes about 60 cm high with orange-red young leaves that gradually become orange-yellow and then pale green. The flowers are deep pink;
• Spiraea japonica Goldflame- a shrub about 80 cm high with a dense crown consisting of orange-yellow leaves, which gradually become bright yellow, then yellow-green, and in autumn - copper-orange. The flowers of this variety are small, pink-red;
• Spiraea japonica Golden Princess– a shrub about 1 m high with bright yellow leaves and pink flowers;
• Spiraea japonica Gold Mount– this is a small Japanese spirea, only 25 cm high, with bright yellow-golden foliage and pink flowers;
• Candlelight– the height of the Japanese spirea of ​​this variety is also small, only half a meter. It is a compact bush with pink flowers and creamy yellow leaves that become brighter with age;
• Spiraea japonica Crispa– the height of this variety is 50-60 cm, the leaves are wavy, reddish when they appear, then light green, and in the fall they turn orange-bronze or scarlet. Flowers of a delicate lilac-pink hue;
• Spiraea japonica Darts Red– the shape of the bush of this variety resembles Little Princess, but the buds of Darts Red are pink, and the flowers have an intense purple color;
• Spiraea japonica Golden Carpet– a bush only 20 cm high and 38 cm wide with smooth golden leaves and a few greenish-pink flowers;
• Spiraea japonica Jenpei (Genpei)– a variety 60-80 cm high and about 1 m wide with reddish-brown shoots and dark green leaves. At the same time, white, pink and red flowers open on the bush;
• Spiraea japonica Frobelli– a bush from 80 to 120 cm high with a spherical crown, erect branches, rich crimson inflorescences and purple leaves in spring and autumn, which turn green in summer;
• Spiraea japonica Dwarf– a slow-growing dwarf shrub about 30 cm high with a rounded crown. The leaves of the plant are small, green, and orange in autumn. The pink flowers form flat corymbs;
• Spiraea japonica Albiflora- also a slow-growing dwarf plant with a dense rounded crown, reaching a diameter of 80 to 150 cm. The leaves are light green, yellow in autumn. The flowers are small, white;
• Spiraea japonica Anthony Waterer– a bush up to 80 cm high with pink-lilac-ruby flowers and reddish light green leaves when young;
• Spiraea japonica Magic Carpet- creeping shrub with a dense cushion-shaped crown. The bright red leaves gradually turn orange to yellow. The flowers are pink with a purple tint.

Also popular in cultivation are the varieties of Japanese spirea Ruberrima, Nana, Bullata, Neon Flash, Double Play Artist, Pink Parasol, Green and Gold, Manon, Golden Elf, Sandrop, Pink and Gold, Double Play Big Bang, Double Play Gold and others.

Spiraea is a shrub belonging to the rose family. The plant got its name due to the special flexibility of its branches. From the Greek word "speria" is translated as "bend".

Landscape designers are very fond of Japanese spirea. This love is explained by the wide variety of varieties, the external beauty of the shrub and the ease of caring for it. This shrub is perfect both when planted alone and in groups with other plants.

Spiraea bushes can be large or very small. The largest species of shrub can reach a height of 2.5 m. The smallest species of Japanese spirea barely grows to 20 cm.

All types of spirea plants have fibrous and shallow roots. The branches of the plant can stand upright, trail or lie down. The color of the bark can range from bright to dark burgundy.

The leaves of Japanese spirea are alternate with clearly defined petioles. Round in shape with a pointed tip.

Japanese spirea blooms with small flowers collected in large inflorescences. The latter may be:

• Spike-shaped.
• Paniculate.
• Thyroid.
• Pyramidal.

Inflorescences can be located in a variety of places. Their location mainly depends on the type of spirea. In some varieties, the inflorescences are located along the growth of the shoot, in others only in its upper part.

The colors of the flowers are very different. The most common plants are those with white and pink flowers.

Japanese spirea is used both for creating hedges and for individual planting. Dwarf spirea is great for creating a “carpet” in the garden, decorating alpine slides and rose gardens.

Gallery: Japanese spirea (25 photos)

Types and varieties of spirea

Botanists know more than 100 species of this shrub. But not all of them are used in landscape design. Some types of this plant are more popular, others less popular.

All types and varieties of Japanese spirea are divided into two large groups according to flowering time:

• Spring-flowering.
• Summer flowering.

Spring-blooming spirea

These types of shrubs are characterized by early flowering and white flowers. True, this is not a pure white color, but its various shades. Spring-flowering spirea gives color only in the second year of the bush's life. A characteristic feature of these plants is the increased density of bushes.

The following varieties of spring-flowering plants are most often used in gardening:

• Gray. This is a hybrid bush obtained by crossing whitish-gray and St. John's wort varieties. In fact, this is an ordinary white spirea. This variety got its name because of the grayish color of the leaves. This bush can grow up to 2 meters in height. Its flowers are snow-white, collected in inflorescences that look like loose shields. The latter are located along the entire length of the branch. At the very top they sit directly on the shoot. The inflorescences located below grow on leafy branches. This plant variety blooms in mid-May. The first fruits appear in June.
• Grefsheim. The Grefsheim spirea bush grows up to 2 meters in height. This variety can be easily recognized by its red branches with a spreading crown and large double flowers with diameters up to 11 mm. The inflorescences are umbrella-shaped and pure white. Spiraea Grefsheim is loved by beekeepers to plant on their plots, since this type of plant is a honey plant that blooms for 50 days. It requires virtually no maintenance.
• Spiraea Vangutta is white. This is a hybrid obtained by crossing three-lobed and Cantonese shrub varieties. Spiraea Wangutta is a large shrub with drooping branches, three-lobed leaves of a rich green color. The latter become red with an orange tint closer to autumn. Spiraea Wangutta has large round inflorescences of pure white color, consisting of a large number of medium-sized flowers. Inflorescences are located along the entire perimeter of the shoot. Spiraea Vagnutta white can bloom 2 times: in July and September.
• Nipponian. This variety of shrub comes from the island of Honshu. It can grow up to 2.1 m in height. It is distinguished by a dense spherical crown. The branches of the bush are located mainly horizontally. The leaves on them are large and have a rounded shape. Nippon spirea blooms in May. The flowers are corymbose-shaped and green-yellow in color. The flowers are quite large: up to 15 mm. Sometimes red flowers can be found in the inflorescences. Caring for it is quite difficult.
• Arguta. This variety can reach 2 meters in height. Its crown is spreading. Strongly jagged, lanceolate-shaped, dark green leaves grow on drooping branches. During the flowering period, Arguta produces a large number of umbrella-shaped inflorescences, which completely cover the branches. Experts consider this variety to be the most effective for landscape design. These bushes look amazing in the garden. In addition, they feel great in urban environments. It can be planted either individually or as part of compositions with other shrubs.
• Spiraea crenate. In our country, this plant variety grows in the Southeast, the Caucasus, Altai, and the northern part of Central Asia. This is a low shrub. Its height does not exceed 1 meter. Its crown is loose, covered with oblong leaves 3.5 cm long, grayish-green in color. The leaves have a characteristic serration along the edge and three veins, clearly visible at the base. The crenate variety produces white flowers with a yellowish tint, collected in large corymbose-shaped inflorescences. This type of shrub blooms in July for 20 days. In private gardens, it is rarely found, but it is widely used in the landscape design of city parks. Caring for it is very simple: you need to trim the branches in time.
• Oak leaf. This is an erect bush with long shoots. The total height of the plant is 2 m. The branches are mostly erect, but during the flowering period they can bend strongly towards the ground under the weight of the inflorescences. The crown of this shrub is thick and round. It consists of coarsely toothed, ovoid leaves with sharp tips. Oakleaf spirea blooms with white flowers 1.5 cm in diameter, collected in spherical inflorescences. Since this bush lends itself well to shaping by cutting, it is very often used to create beautiful hedges. This plant does not require special care.
• Average. This variety is distinguished by its great branching. The shrub has a rounded crown with bright green leaves. It blooms with snow-white flowers collected in corymbose inflorescences. The flowering period occurs in May and lasts 15 days.
• Thunberg. This shrub grows up to 1.5 m, but not in the middle zone. It is distinguished by its large density of branches covered with dense dark green leaves. The latter give the shrub a special charm, because in the fall they turn bright orange. The Thunberg variety blooms in May. The flowers are small, collected in umbels of inflorescences sitting on a rosette of small leaves.

Summer-flowering varieties

These varieties of spirea are distinguished by the fact that their inflorescences are located on the tops of young shoots. Last year's branches do not produce color and dry out quickly. These varieties of Japanese spirea bloom in red, pink, and rose-red colors.

Plant propagation

Cultivation of this plant depends on the variety and species. Most varieties can be propagated by seeds, but not hybrids. The latter can only be propagated by division and layering.

Propagation by seeds

In the fall, after the fruits ripen, you need to collect Japanese spirea seeds and dry them thoroughly. In this form they will winter well.

In spring, you need to prepare a special mixture of peat and soil and place it in pre-prepared planting containers. After this, you can plant seeds in them. After the seedlings appear, they need to be planted in open ground. This needs to be done at the end of June. This will allow the root system of the seedlings to quickly take root.

Spiraea grown from seeds will give the first color only in the 3rd year of life.

In mid-July, you need to cut off annual shoots and cut them into cuttings. Each of them must have at least 5 leaves. The lower leaves should be removed, and then each cutting should be placed in the Epin solution for half a day. After this, they can be placed in a container with a sandy substrate, where they should take root. To speed up root formation, the container can be covered with film to create a greenhouse effect.

Planting cuttings in open ground should be done after the root system has appeared. After planting, the cuttings should be covered with hay or dry leaves, and an inverted wooden box should be placed on top. By spring, side shoots will appear on the cuttings. After this, the young bushes are planted in a permanent place.

Reproduction of spirea by dividing the bush

This method is suitable for propagating hybrids no younger than 4 years old. For the propagation procedure, you need to dig up the bush at a time when it has shed almost all its leaves. After this, you need to thoroughly wash the root system from the ground and divide it so that the new bushes have several shoots. Each part should have a good root lobe.

Divided bushes should be planted in pre-prepared holes. After sprinkling with earth, the soil around the seedling needs to be well compacted and spilled with 2 buckets of water.

Reproduction by layering

Spirea should be propagated using this method in the spring. You should select a young branch, place it parallel to the ground and secure it with wire staples. After this, the shoot should be sprinkled with soil. Then, you need to regularly water the soil in this place until a young bush appears. Next year in the spring it will be possible to separate the daughter plant and plant it in a new place. For the winter, the cuttings should be insulated with straw or dry leaves. This will make it easier to survive frosts.

Spirea care

The basic requirements for caring for this plant are as follows:

• High-quality drainage. The plant does not like excess moisture.
• Fertile and loose soil.
• Sufficient amount of sunlight.
• Mandatory mulching of the soil after planting.

Since this plant has shallow roots, it requires a lot of water. During the dry season, it is recommended to regularly water the spirea bushes. On average, one bush should require 32 liters of water. 16 liters 2 times a month.

It is advisable to regularly loosen the soil around the bushes and remove weeds in a timely manner.

Good care is impossible without feeding. For this, it is recommended to use mineral fertilizers. You can also use mullein solution.

As for pruning, it should be done in spring and autumn. It is mainly of a sanitary nature. You can also trim the bushes when they grow too much.

The genus Spiraea includes 90 species, distributed in the forest-steppe and semi-desert zones, the subalpine zone of the mountains of the Northern Hemisphere.

Description of spirea

Spiraea - deciduous shrubs, sometimes exceeding 2 m in height. The shape of the bush is different, there are: weeping, pyramidal, erect, hemispherical, cascading, creeping forms. Types of spirea differ among themselves in the shape and color of the leaves; many types of spirea change their green color to yellow, orange or purple-red in the fall.

Most of the most diverse species, with skillful selection, allow them to achieve continuous flowering from spring to autumn. Spiraea is valued for its lush and long-lasting flowering.

Spiraea flowers small, but numerous, collected in inflorescences of different shapes: corymbose, pyramidal, paniculate and spicate. Some species of spirea have single flowers.

The color of the flowers is also varied - from white to crimson. The decorative nature of spirea is determined not only by the varied arrangement of inflorescences on the shoots, but also by the timing of flowering.

There are species whose inflorescences cover the entire shoot; in other types of spirea, the inflorescences are located only on the upper part of the shoots; in some others - at the ends of the shoots.

Spiraea are divided into 2 groups: spring-flowering spirea and summer-flowering. In spring bloomers, flowering usually occurs on the shoots of the previous year and the flowers are white; Summer-flowering ones have red, pink, crimson flowers, and they bloom on the shoots of the current year.

This division into two groups is also reflected in the agricultural technology for caring for these shrubs; Spring-blooming spireas are pruned immediately after flowering, and summer-blooming spireas - only in spring.

Spiraea of ​​the first group bloom all together, but not for long; in the second group the flowering is extended.

All spirea are undemanding to soil, frost-resistant, light-loving, many species are gas-resistant, and tolerate urban conditions well. Easily propagated by cuttings, layering, dividing the bush, seeds and shoots. They grow very quickly and begin to bloom in the 3rd year.

Types and varieties of spirea

Group of spring flowering spireas

Spiraea gray

Gray spirea is a highly branched bush 2 m high, with felt ribbed shoots. The leaves of the gray spirea are gray-green above, lighter below, and pointed at both ends. The snow-white flowers of gray spirea are collected in loose shields and are located throughout the shoot. At the top of the shoots the inflorescences are sessile, below they are on elongating leafy branches. This spirea blooms in May, and the fruits ripen in June.

Gray spirea does not reproduce by seeds, because this species is a hybrid. The gray spirea bush is very decorative due to the compactness of the bush, drooping branches, and a large number of snow-white inflorescences. This spirea is planted either as a single bush or in groups. Flowering shoots of spirea sulfur can be used to make bouquets.

Very interesting variety "Grefsheim"- a small densely branched shrub with arched drooping branches and narrow leaves. Snow-white, fairly large double flowers, collected in dense bunches, are located along the shoots.

Spiraea gray is considered winter-hardy.

Spiraea arguta

A tall bush (2 m) with a spreading crown, with narrow, strongly jagged, lanceolate, dark green leaves about 4 cm long. The flowers of Spiraea arguta are pure white, 0.8 cm in diameter, in numerous, umbrella-shaped inflorescences, densely covering the shoots. Spiraea arguta blooms on last year's shoots; it should be pruned immediately after flowering. It grows slowly, 20 cm per year.

It is one of the most spectacular spring-flowering spirea. Thanks to the abundance of flowers and the grace of arching thin branches, it makes an indelible impression both up close and at a distance. Stable in city conditions.

Thin spreading branches of Argut spirea with small narrow green leaves and white flowers in umbrella inflorescences that tightly cover the shoots create a feeling of purity.

Spiraea arguta is beautiful in a single planting, in compositions with shrubs, and can also be used for hedges. Blooms annually. Photophilous. This spirea can tolerate slightly dry soil. The seeds are not germinating because it is a hybrid.

Spiraea Wangutta

Spiraea Vangutta is stunning with its large size. The height and diameter of its crown reach up to 2 m. It differs from representatives of this genus in its spreading, curving branches, forming a very beautiful “cascade” shape of the crown. Its leaves are 3.5 cm long, toothed, 5-lobed, obovate, green above, dull-gray below, glabrous.

Spiraea Wangutta flowers in dense, multiple, hemispherical inflorescences, pure white, densely covering the entire shoot. Flowering lasts several weeks. Spiraea Wangutta sometimes has a secondary flowering in August, however, it is no longer so abundant. Spiraea Vangutta is also beautiful for its foliage. Its fruits ripen by October. Blossoming begins at 3 years of age.

Spiraea Wangutta grows quickly, is shade-tolerant, and unpretentious. But it prefers sunny places and well-drained soils. Frost-resistant, sometimes the ends of the shoots freeze, which need to be cut off in the spring.

Spiraea Vangutta is effective in single plantings, in groups, low hedges, and when creating large flower beds. It fits perfectly into the landscape with pines, spruces, fir trees, especially on the banks of ponds and streams. Takes cuttings well.

Spiraea crenate

It grows in the southeast of Russia and Western Europe, the Caucasus, Altai, and northern Central Asia. It grows in the zone of meadow and shrub steppes, and is observed on rocky mountain slopes in thickets of bushes. Protected in nature reserves.

Spiraea crenate is a low shrub, about 1 m, with a loose crown, oblong or obovate, 3.5 cm in length, grayish-green leaves. It is very easy to identify crenate spirea by the crenate edge of the leaf and the presence of three veins protruding from the bottom.

The flowers of this spirea are white with a yellow tint, collected in wide corymbose inflorescences, sitting on short, leafy branches. Flowering duration is about 20 days. Spiraea crenate bears fruit in July.

It is drought- and frost-resistant, produces abundant root growth, can tolerate insufficient soil moisture, grows in partial shade, but develops better in good light.

In gardening, Crenate spirea is not often found. Used in parks, groups, edges and forest parks. Has hybrid forms.

Spiraea oakleaf

Spiraea oakleaf grows from Eastern Europe to the Far East. Grows on rocky slopes and mountain forests.

An erect bush 2 m tall, with long shoots, under the weight of their inflorescences they gracefully bend towards the ground, with a beautiful, dense crown, rounded in shape.

The leaves are finely petiolate, oblong-ovate, 5 cm long, pointed, coarsely toothed twice along the edge, green above, bluish below. White flowers 1.5 cm in diameter in hemispherical inflorescences; Spiraea oakleaf blooms in early May for about 25 days.

Gas and frost resistant. Tolerates slight shade. In autumn, the foliage turns an even, yellow color. Spiraea oakleaf propagates by seeds, cuttings, and dividing the bush.

Excellent for cutting, it is used for hedges. This spirea is prized for its lush blooms and graceful foliage.

Spiraea nipponensis

This spirea comes from Japan, where it grows on the island of Hondo.

Shrub 2 m tall, with a spherical crown, branches directed horizontally; on top there are crenate, sometimes entire outermost, green leaves 5 cm long, retaining their green color until late autumn.

It begins to bloom in early June, lasting 15-25 days. The buds of Spiraea nipponensis are purple, the flowers are yellowish-green, in corymbose inflorescences, very densely covering the shoots.

It is characterized by abundant flowering and a compact crown structure. Effective in single plantings. Photophilous. It is not demanding on soil richness. Nippon spirea propagates by seeds, cuttings, and also by dividing the bush.

It has 2 decorative forms: round-leaved - in addition to the shape of the foliage, it is distinguished by the powerful size of the bush and large inflorescences; angustifolia - with narrow leaves and small, numerous flowers. In the European part, 2 varieties are popular.

Nipponian spirea "Halward's Silver" - a bush whose height is 1 m, dark green foliage. The flowers of Nipponian spirea "Halward's Silver" are white in large convex inflorescences, bloom in June.

Spiraea Nippon "Snowmound" is a bush 2 m high. The crown is dense, the branches are gracefully curved. The leaves of Spiraea Nippon "Snowound" are dark green and elongated. The flowers are snow-white, collected in corymbose inflorescences, open in June.

Spiraea average

It grows naturally in Russia, southern Siberia, Central Asia and the Far East. Grows in thickets of bushes, on dry slopes.

Medium spirea is a branched shrub with a rounded crown and bright green leaves. The shoots of middle spirea are round, brownish with flaky bark. The flowers are snow-white, in corymbose inflorescences. It begins to bloom in May for about 15 days. It begins to bear fruit at the age of 3.

Frost-resistant, tolerates shade. Spiraea average propagates easily thanks to its abundant root shoots. It tolerates replanting and pruning well, and is used in single and group plantings.

Spiraea thunberg

Under natural conditions it grows in China, Korea, and Japan. Its favorite places are mountain slopes and valleys, which during the flowering period look covered with a continuous snow cover.

Spiraea Thunberg is a low bush, in nature reaching a height of 1.5 m. In cultivation in the middle zone it does not reach such dimensions, but it branches densely. Its dense leaves are 4 cm long.

Thanks to these graceful leaves, Thunberga spirea is very decorative, especially considering that in autumn they acquire an orange color.

In summer they are bright green. The inflorescences of Spiraea Thunberg are sessile umbrellas at the base with a rosette of small leaves; they consist of small white flowers that appear in May. Flowering ends in June.

The fruits of this spirea ripen quickly. Thunberg's spirea begins to bloom and bear fruit at the age of 3.

This shrub propagates by seeds and cuttings. In cold winters the shoots freeze a little. Spiraea Thunberga is a profusely flowering shrub that blooms first. Prefers sunny places.

Group of summer-blooming spireas

In summer-blooming spireas, the inflorescences are completed by young shoots of the current year. The following year, spirea inflorescences reappear at the ends of young shoots, and the old tops dry out.

Spiraea japonica

Distributed in Japan and China.

Japanese spirea is a beautiful bush with tomentose-pubescent shoots, then bare; oblong-ovate leaves, green above, bluish below, with a red tint when blooming, in the fall - a spectacular variety of colors. It blooms all summer with pink-red flowers collected in corymbose-paniculate inflorescences.

Flowering duration is 45 days. It is widely used to create flowering groups and hedges. as well as borders.

In the spring season, all varieties of Japanese spirea need to be pruned, leaving shoots 25 cm high from the soil level. Golden-leaved forms of Japanese spirea are predisposed to the appearance of shoots with green leaves.

They stand out against the background of yellow spireas not only by their color, but also by their powerful growth. All of them should be deleted.

Japanese spirea has many garden forms, differing in bush height, flower color and leaf blade size. The most common spirea:

Japanese « Little Princesses"("Little Princess") - bush 0.6 m tall, rounded, compact crown, dark green, elliptical leaves, pink flowers, collected in corymbose inflorescences.

Japanese spirea "Little Princess" begins to bloom in June-July. It grows very slowly. Looks good in single plantings, edges, groups, hedges.

Spiraea japonica "Shirobana"- is a low shrub 0.8 m tall. The leaves are dark green, narrow-lanceolate, 2 cm long. The color of the flowers of the Japanese spirea "Shirobana" varies from white to bright pink, sometimes red.

Blooms in July - August. Japanese spirea "Shirobana" can successfully decorate a rock garden and low border, various compositions with conifers and other shrubs.

« Macrophylla» ( "Macrophylla") - 1.3 m high. It is distinguished by large, 20 cm long and 10 cm wide, swollen wrinkled leaves, when they bloom they are purple-red, then green, and in the fall they become golden-yellow.

If, when the buds open, you cut the Macrophyll spirea to 7 cm from the soil level, then the growing young shoots at the top will have a bright color all summer. Spiraea "Macrophylla" is one of the best spireas. Among the variegated foliage, its pink flowers in small inflorescences are lost. Spiraea "Macrophylla" blooms from the end of July to the end of August.

Spiraea "Candlelight"- a dwarf compact dense bush with creamy yellow leaves. Their color becomes rich and goes well with the pink flowers that appear in midsummer.

Spiraea “Candlelight” does not produce shoots with the usual green leaf color.

Spiraea "Goldflame"- a dense shrub 1 m tall, with orange-yellow leaves. Then they turn bright yellow, then yellow-green.

Spiraea "Goldflame" has orange leaves in autumn. Sometimes variegated leaves appear on the bush. Spiraea 'Goldflame' flowers are small pink-red.

Spiraea "Golden Princess"- shrub 1 m in height, with yellow leaves and pink flowers.

Spiraea "Gold Mound"- dwarf, 0.25 m tall, bush with bright golden-yellow foliage and small inflorescences of pink flowers, appearing in mid-July.

Spiraea white

Under natural conditions, white spirea is common in North America. In Russia it is often found in the Asian and European parts.

A bush with ribbed, pubescent red-brown shoots and pointed serrated leaves at the ends, reaching 7 cm in length and 2 cm in width. White flowers are collected in pyramidal, loose, pubescent panicle inflorescences about 6-15 cm long with almost horizontally deviating branches, appearing at the ends of the current year's shoots.

White spirea blooms annually, from July to August. Its fruits ripen in October.

White spirea propagates by seeds and cuttings. Thanks to its beautiful inflorescences, late and long flowering, white spirea is used for planting in groups, single bushes, and in hedges. Quite a moisture-loving shrub.

Spiraea birch leaf

Under natural conditions, birch leaf spirea grows in the Far East, Siberia, Korea and Japan. It grows in mixed and coniferous forests, on rocky mountain slopes.

Birch leaf spirea got its name due to the similarity of its leaves with the leaves of our beloved birch. Indeed, the leaves of birch-leaf spirea are elliptical or broadly ovate with a wedge-shaped base, green.

Birch-leaved spirea is a low (60 cm) shrub with a dense spherical crown and ribbed, sometimes zigzag-curved shoots. In spring, leaves appear in mid-April and fall at the end of October.

In autumn, the leaves of birch-leaved spirea become bright yellow. Flowering occurs in June. Its inflorescences are dense, corymbose, sometimes convex panicles of a large number of white or slightly pinkish flowers. Blooms from 4 years old. Its fruits ripen only in October.

Spiraea birch leaf is shade-tolerant, but blooms more profusely in sunny places, on moist soils. It is completely winter-hardy and does not require shelter. Pruning of shoots should be done in early spring. Shorten the shoots to a well-developed bud. Birch-leaved spirea propagates by sowing unstratified seeds in spring.

Birch leaf spirea is planted mixed or pure with other types of spirea. It is suitable for creating edges of tall groups of trees and shrubs, and for rockeries.

Spiraea Billarda

Billard's spirea is a hybrid between the willow spirea and the Douglas spirea. This species is found from Arkhangelsk to Central Asia and the Caucasus in the south.

Spiraea Billarda grows as a shrub with spreading branches, 2 m in height. The broadly lanceolate leaves, 10 cm long from the base, are acutely or double-serrate, and are grayish-tomentose underneath.

The bright pink flowers of Billard's spirea are collected in dense pyramidal, narrow, paniculate inflorescences, sometimes highly branched, tomentose. Billard's spirea blooms at the end of July until frost. The fruits do not set.

Billard's spirea is frost-resistant. Easily propagated by cuttings. Shade-tolerant, but achieves best flowering in sunny places. Billard's spirea is used for hedges of medium height; it is also planted in groups and single bushes.

In order to get a more powerful bush, pruning the shoots is recommended in early spring. Early pruning of Billard's spirea stimulates the appearance of young shoots that bloom in the same year.

Spiraea Billard "Triumphans" ("Triumphans") is a tall bush, reaches 2.5 m. Spiraea Billard "Triumphans" has purple-pink spike-shaped inflorescences 20 cm in height crowned by its shoots with oblong-lanceolate leaves. Its young shoots are first green, then reddish-brown, pubescent, and the old ones are ribbed and bare.

The shoots of this spirea are short-lived and gradually dry out. It is better not to prune Billard's spirea until it is 4 years old. During this period, it gains strength and grows with the help of its root offspring. By the age of 6, the bush loses its shape, and pruning is simply necessary, it allows you to restore its decorative appearance.

Spiraea Boumalda

Spiraea Boumalda is a hybrid between Spiraea white-flowered and Spiraea japonica.

A low bush, 75 cm tall, with erect branches and a spherical crown. Spiraea Bumald's shoots are bare and slightly ribbed. Leaves are 8 cm long, glabrous, ovate-lanceolate, sharply biserrate. The color of the flowers of this spirea varies from soft pink to dark pink.

It blooms almost all summer, about 50 days. Spiraea Bumalda is a very beautiful hybrid with highly variable characteristics, sometimes even difficult to distinguish from Japanese spirea, as a rule, lower than it and with ribbed shoots.

At three years old, spirea Bumalda begins to bloom and bear fruit. The fruits ripen in October.

"Anthony Waterer"(“Anthony Waterer”) is a bush with narrow leaves and bright red flowers. Flowering, spirea Boumald "Antoni Waterer" lasts 100 days, coincides with the flowering of hydrangea paniculata, very spectacular groups are obtained when they are planted together.

"Darts Ed"- 0.5 m high. Spiraea "Darts Red" grows straight up. Its leaves are lanceolate, when blooming they are pinkish, then dark green, and in autumn they are red.

It begins to bloom in July and ends in September with ruby-red or crimson flowers, in corymbose inflorescences. Spiraea "Darts Red" is decorative from spring until autumn.

The following forms are also known:

"Froebel"(Froebelii) - a shrub with purple leaves in autumn and spring, carnation-pink flowers in large inflorescences about 12 cm in diameter, the flowering of the Froebel spirea lasts 50 days. The bright inflorescences look beautiful not only in the garden, but also in a bouquet.

It is distinguished by its large size and compact structure.

"curly" ("Crispa") - low shrub, 0.5 m. The shoots are brown, striped, pubescent. The leaves are wine-red when blooming, then green, with a wavy-curling edge. The flowers of the spirea "Crispa" are purple in corymbose panicles.

It begins to bloom from the end of July until August. Spiraea "Crispa" is suitable for a romantic garden.

Spiraea douglas

Grows in North America.

This spirea is an upright growing shrub, with red-brown, straight, pubescent shoots. The leaves of Douglas spirea are oblong-lanceolate, gray-tomentose below, entire to the middle, unequally toothed at the top.

The flowers of this spirea are pink, in dense narrow pyramidal, paniculate, apical inflorescences. Duration of flowering of Douglas spirea is 45 days.

Blooms in July. Its fruits begin to ripen in September. Douglas spirea begins to bloom at the age of 3. It propagates by seeds and cuttings.

With its bright pink flowers and silvery foliage, Douglas spirea is particularly valuable for green building. Very effective in groups and along park roads.

Spiraea looseleaf

It grows naturally in Siberia, Europe, North America, Japan and China. It grows in thickets of bushes near lakes, along river floodplains, and in sedge swamps.

Spiraea willow - an upright shrub about 2 m tall, with reddish-yellow shoots; elongated-lanceolate, pointed leaves, sharp-serrate from the base, ciliated or bare along the edge, they are dark green above, lighter below.

White or pink flowers on short yellow-pubescent peduncles are collected in pyramidal or cylindrical panicles 20 cm long.

Spiraea willow is frost-resistant and develops better in fresh, moist soils. Propagated by seeds and cuttings. It begins to bloom at the age of 4.

Japanese spirea is a unique plant that is useful on the site both as a hedge and as a decorative decoration. Spiraea can also be grown in cool climates - it is quite unpretentious. We will learn the features of growing Japanese spirea in open ground, find out all the nuances of planting and caring for it.

Japanese spirea is one of the representatives of the Rosaceae family. The shrub is compact in size, deciduous, and can be grown in various regions of our country. Pay attention to the photospirea presented on our website.

An interesting feature of the color of spirea foliage is that only when they bloom in the spring, they are brown, then by summer they turn green, and closer to autumn the foliage becomes red. Many landscape designers use this unique feature of spirea, giving the site a magnificent look.

Spiraea flowers have a pinkish-red hue, are small, but collected in rather lush and multiple inflorescences. The diameter of one inflorescence can be either 5 or 30 centimeters, depending on the variety. In addition, this plant has a very long flowering period: from the end of June until the fall.

All varieties of spirea are divided into:

• spring flowering;
• summer flowering.

The first ones begin to bloom from mid-late May, and the second ones (there are more of them) - from the end of June. Japanese spirea is a summer-flowering variety.

Varieties

Little princesses

A compact shrub that grows 50-60 cm in height. The pink color of the inflorescences-corythes contrasts beautifully with the dark green dense foliage (see photo).

Goldflame

A variety characterized by a particularly noticeable change in foliage color. The flowers are small, pink, and look very decorative against the background of beautiful leaves.

Crispa

A low shrub, does not grow higher than half a meter. The flowers are very delicate, light pink, collected in graceful umbrella inflorescences. Spiraea Crispa is valued for its long-term flowering - the decorative period lasts about two months.

Macrophila

It is distinguished by extremely decorative foliage that changes color. So, in the spring, the leaves of Macrophila have a purple tint, in the summer - green, and in the fall the foliage becomes golden and orange.

Golden princesses

This Spiraea reaches a meter in height and is distinguished by reddish-pink flowers and yellow foliage.

A variety such as Shirobana is also often planted. The variety boasts a compact bush and simultaneous flowering of both pink and white flowers on one plant.

In landscape design, Japanese spirea is valued for its exceptional decorative properties. Various varieties of it are used to create hedges and to decorate flower arrangements and alpine slides.

Growing conditions

Let's find out what requirements the Japanese spirea makes for the conditions of its maintenance and location.

Selecting a location

Although the plant is unpretentious, it will best demonstrate its decorative qualities when planted in a sunny, well-lit area. By the way, spirea can feel quite good in the shady corners of the garden, however, in this case it will not be particularly decorative: the inflorescences will be smaller and the color of the foliage will not be so bright.

It is also important to know that the space allocated for spirea must be quite large, since the roots of the plant grow underground over an area larger than the area of ​​the shrub itself.

The soil

Japanese spirea will feel best in fertile, well-fertilized soil. Take care of this before planting by adding the necessary nutrients to the soil.

Planting time and seedling selection

Spiraea should be planted in open ground in the spring. However, it is necessary to have time to plant before the leaves bloom on the plant. Purchase seedlings from trusted nurseries, paying attention to the roots of the plant: it is important that they are not overdried. Otherwise, the spirea will not take root. When purchasing seedlings with bare roots, choose specimens with live buds, but not yet starting to grow. Bend the roots and shoots (without fanaticism) - they should be flexible and not brittle.

Preparing for landing

If the plant has damaged roots, remove them with sharp, well-disinfected pruners. If some healthy roots are too long, shorten them too.

Before planting, soak the roots of the plant in water with potassium permanganate. The procedure will simultaneously solve two problems: it will relieve the roots from drying out and ensure disinfection.

Landing

How to properly plant Japanese spirea in open ground.

The first step is to prepare the hole. Its volume should be one third greater than the approximate volume of spirea roots. The hole should be allowed to settle for two to four days before planting.

Planting should be done in cloudy weather or rain. Place a drainage layer of crushed brick at the bottom of the dug hole with a layer of approximately 15-20 cm. The soil should be as follows:

• turf soil - 30 parts;
• humus - 2 parts;
• peat soil - 1 part;
• river sand - 1 part.

Mix all ingredients.

Dip the roots of the plant into the hole, straighten them carefully, and cover them with carefully prepared soil mixture. The root collar should be located above the ground and not buried. When filling the hole with soil, immediately compact the soil as the process progresses.

After planting, water the bush using 1-2 buckets of water. Mulch the root circle with dry peat. Also make several depressions in the diameter of the root circle to retain water: in this way you will ensure better hydration of the plant's roots.

A couple of days after planting, water the plant with water with ammonia dissolved in it. This substance acts on spirea like an anti-stress drug: it will nourish the roots while they have not yet completely taken root. In addition, ammonia will help you gain green mass faster. By the way, fertilizing with ammonia can be done later, when the plant has already taken root and is actively growing.

Care

Top dressing

To ensure long-term and abundant flowering of spirea, you should pamper it with additional nutrition. Proper care involves fertilizing twice a season: after spring pruning and in July. In the spring, add a mineral complex solution, and in the summer, add a mullein solution. It is recommended to pour from 1 to three liters of fertilizer under one bush.

Loosening, mulching

Japanese spirea grows best in loose, well-permeable soil. Therefore, after watering and rain, it is advisable to loosen the soil in the root circle, removing weeds at the same time. Mulching will help retain moisture and get rid of weeds. Use dry compost or peat as mulch.

Drafts

Japanese spirea is not afraid of the wind, so it can feel good in open areas. However, too strong gusts can negatively affect flowering, so it is better to protect the spirea from drafts during the period of bud formation

Watering

The plant needs moderate watering. If it is hot outside, then the moisturizing procedure is mandatory. On average, in cool weather they spend 10 liters of water (a bucket) per bush with one watering, in hot weather - 20 liters. Watering frequency - twice a month.

Irrigation and spraying

As for spraying, spirea does not need this procedure. Irrigation is beneficial for its root system; there is no need to irrigate the foliage.

Pest treatment

In general, this plant is resistant to diseases and pest damage. Nevertheless, although rarely, sometimes spirea is attacked by aphids and spider mites. To cope with these pests, gardeners recommend spraying with a solution of hot pepper, karbofos, and tobacco. Products such as Actellik and Aktara have proven themselves to be effective against spider mites.

But it’s better to prevent pest damage in the first place. Carry out preventive spraying in advance - and then the spirea will always be healthy and strong. By the way, watering with water with ammonia serves not only as fertilizing, but also prevents many plant diseases.

Pruning, replanting

This shrub grows quickly, so regular shaping is necessary. Every year in the spring before the growing season, shorten the regrown shoots down to the first strong and strong buds. In addition, after each winter, remove weed shoots: weak, diseased, frostbitten.

When the bush is four years old, you can prune it further, removing up to 30 cm of shoots. Keep in mind, the more you shorten the spirea shoots, the more lush and profusely flowering the bush will be.

Reproduction

The plant can be propagated in four ways:

• seeds;
• dividing the bush;
• layering;
• cuttings.

In amateur gardening, the method of cuttings or layering is usually used. Dividing a bush already requires a more professional approach, not to mention seed propagation - long and painstaking. In addition, there is a risk of buying the wrong seeds: for example, hybrid varieties of spirea, in principle, cannot be bred from seeds.

Care at different times of the year, wintering

In spring and autumn, the plant only needs pruning, but spirea tolerates winter quite well. However, if you live in an area with snowless and frosty winters, it is better to cover the roots of the plant for the winter. And even if you live in an area with a temperate climate, it is advisable to cover the roots of those plants that are not yet four years old for the winter. Young spirea tolerates cold worse. You can use spruce branches or fallen leaves as cover - a layer of 15-20 cm is quite enough.

Keep in mind that spirea blooms for the first time only in the third year after planting. You should be patient - the decorative spectacle of the bush blooming is worth it.

It is also important to know that the root system of the plant is superficial, therefore it cannot take moisture from deep layers of soil. Therefore, do not allow the roots to dry out, and be sure to water the spirea regularly, twice as much in hot weather.

A spirea bush lives for about 17 years, but if, upon reaching the age of four, it does not please with abundant flowering, it is better to replace it with a higher-quality specimen.

Japanese spirea is a real decoration of the garden, striking with a unique combination of delicate flowers and brightly colored leaves. In addition, the shrub is unpretentious, so even novice gardeners can grow it. And our advice will definitely help you with this.

Spiraea is a genus of ornamental deciduous shrubs of the rose family. Another name is meadowsweet.

Spirea is quite unpretentious in care. There are about a hundred varieties of this plant.

Spiraea grows in steppe, forest-steppe and semi-desert areas. The first mentions of meadowsweet date back to the 15th century. Four centuries later, V. Dahl entered all the information about this plant into his dictionary.

Today, there are a large number of varieties of spirea, distinguished by their decorative appearance, frost resistance and long flowering period.

Appearance of spirea

Spiraea shrub can be miniature (up to 15 cm in height) and tall (up to 2.5 m).

The plant has a fibrous root system located at a shallow depth. The branches can either creep along the ground or be erect, spreading or lying. Their color varies from light brown to dark brown. The bark can delaminate in the longitudinal direction.

The petiole leaves are arranged alternately and can have a lobed, lanceolate or rounded shape. The flowers are small, but their number is quite large, they form a variety of inflorescences. Their shades are different: from snow-white to bright crimson. Flowers can be located either evenly throughout the branch or only at the tips of the shoots.

Reproduction occurs in four ways:

• dividing the bush;
• seeds;
• layering;
• cuttings

Spiraea is used for flower beds and to create hedges. Any rock garden and stone garden cannot do without dwarf meadowsweet.

You can also make living green carpets from miniature spireas. A single meadowsweet bush also looks good.

Varieties of Spiraea

Types of spirea are divided depending on the flowering period:

Spring-flowering. They are distinguished by early flowering and flowers of various tones of white, which appear in the 2nd year of life of the branches. These varieties have a rather lush bush shape.

Spring-flowering species include gray spirea, gray spirea Grefsheim, spirea Vancutta, spirea Arguta. All of them belong to the white spirea;

Summer flowering. They bloom in summer. Flowers bloom at the tips of young branches, while older branches dry out over time. Flowers can have different colors. A striking representative is Japanese spirea. It has many varieties.

There are also other varieties of spirea that bloom in summer. An example would be willow spirea, spirea Boumald, Douglas, Billard and others.

How to grow spirea

Planting and caring for spirea is not very difficult. The soil for meadowsweet should be leaf or turf. For shrubs, a mixture of soil, sand and peat in proportions of 2:1:1 is perfect.

Drainage is required. The hole in which you plan to plant the spirea should be 1/3 larger than the size of the roots of the shrub, its depth should be at least 0.5 m. It is very important that the root collar is located on the surface of the ground.

The plant can also be planted in spring. Spiraea favorably tolerates the proximity of junipers, fir trees, and thujas.

Meadowsweet prefers well-lit places. Some varieties also feel great in a shaded area. The soil must be fertile and it is recommended to loosen it regularly. A drainage layer is required. It is advisable to mulch the bush immediately after replanting. Peat is perfect for this.

The plant loves moderate watering - 15 liters of water twice a month. Systematic weed removal is mandatory.

You can feed the bush using complex fertilizer. It is recommended to fertilize after cutting the plant, and in July it is a good idea to use a mixture of manure and superphosphate (10 g per 10 l).

Spiraea can suffer from aphids and spider mites. To get rid of ticks, karbofos is recommended, and pyrimor will perfectly destroy aphids. But, in general, spirea are quite resistant to pests.

Spiraea needs systematic pruning as it grows over time. For spring-flowering varieties, only the ends of the shoots are pruned once a year in spring or summer, and after 7-14 years it is necessary to remove all the old branches, for which the bush is cut to a stump. A new bush is formed from new growth (5-6 shoots).

After a couple of years, weakly growing and old branches are pruned again. Late-flowering meadowsweet is pruned in the first spring months. This procedure must be carried out at least once a year. The more shoots you prune, the more powerful the new branches will be.

It is necessary to get rid of old shoots in a timely manner. A four-year-old shrub can be pruned to a height of 30 cm every year.

Decorative spirea bushes will perfectly decorate your garden. They are easy to care for, they are quite frost-resistant, and their life expectancy is quite long. This is an excellent choice for gardeners.

Photo of spirea