11 Must Have Spirea Shrubs – Bring Dramatic Impact to the Garden
Spiraea for Elegance and Drama in your Garden
Remember those elegant white blossomed shrubs in your family garden? The ones with cascades of branches profuse with clusters of tiny flowers? Those dramatic creatures were one of two traditional Spiraea: Garland Spirea (Spiraea x arguta), or Bridal Wreath (Spiraea x vanhouttei). These stately (8ft tall with a 10 ft spread) shrubs can be seen in their full splendour in established gardens across Canada. In contemporary gardens they are likely to be the anchors in mixed hedges, or presented in mass plantings, to stunning affect.
New culitvars (see our Drama Queens below) with beautiful coloured foliage, and dwarf sizes have joined the traditional Spiraeas in the modern garden. Spiraea is now genus with an impressive breadth of garden design possibilities. Consequently, you’ll see it used elegantly in mixed or shrub borders, in rock gardens, as hedging, or as single specimens. Mass planting a single variety, or mixing a number of Spiraea will have a dramatic impact in the garden. Similarly, you can create great beauty in your garden, by mixing Spiraea with other showy ornamental shrubs.
Oh Spirea, er, Spiraea...
We all call them “Spirea”. Well, except for our Master Horticulturist at Bambooplants.ca…because, he knows better. But, that’s what happens when a plant’s common name is so close to its Latin name – the two terms become conflated in day-to-day usage.
Drama Queens
Some of our favourite showy dwarf cultivars (3ft and under) are:
- Spiraea x bumalda ‘Crispa’ - Distinct among the Spireas for its serrated, and slightly twisted red-tipped green leaves, framing deep pink flowers.
- Spiraea x bumalda ‘Goldflame’ - Showy foliage, which emerges orange-red and repeats the performance in the fall, against clusters of rose pink to lavendar flowers.
- Spiraea x bumalda ‘Walbuma’ MAGIC CARPET – Spring blooming pink flowers set against vibrant green-yellow leaves that turn yellow-red in the fall.
- Spiraea x bumalda ‘Flaming mound’ - Orange leaves emerge in spring, and turn yellow, and soft green in summer. Young shoots are always tinged with red. Clusters of deep pink flowers.
- Spiraea japonica ‘Goldmound’ - Features pink flat-top flowers set against vibrant yellow foliage.
- Spiraea japonica ‘Little Princess’ - Beautiful contrast between its deep mint green foliage and clusters of flat-topped pink flowers.
Combo Packages - Mix and Match for Maximum Impact
Spiraea and other showy ornamental shrubs for striking design results.
Trending Spiraea Combo
This selection of Spirea almost makes us giddy! Expect incredible flower coverage in clusters and cones. Vibrant yellow gold to green foliage, with very attractive red and purple new shoots. It’s a smashing group of six of the most stunning Spirea varieties chosen to contrast and compliment one another. Includes a number of our Drama Queens.
As the name suggests this combo is stress-free choice for your garden. Spiraea nipponica ‘Snowmound’ combines with Dutzia, Weigela, and Potentilla to create a sophisticated colour palette of purple, green, gold and white. Mass several combos for a stunning affect, or use one in a small garden to great affect.
The Long Run 20 M Hedge Combo
Multicolour Hedges, long a trend in Europe, have begun to catch on in Canada. This combo will create great visual interest along pathways; and a perfect living fence. Spiraea x vanhouttei – Vanhouttei Spiraea anchors this 20 plant Long Run hedge combo*
* Varieties included dependent on availability.
Red Letter Shurbs Combo
Bring a blend of the deepest reds, and the lightest pinks to your garden. Soft large blossoms and clusters of small tight double flowers create a flamboyant contrast. We have used Spiraea japonica ‘Shirobana’ – Shirobana Spiraea with its unique pink and white flowers as one of four remarkable long flowering shrubs in this combo. (4 shrubs in combo.*)
and Size
Pouty Pinks
- Spiraea japonic articultur ‘Anthony Waterer’ I dwarf
- Spiraea japonica ‘Goldmound’ I dwarf
- Spiraea japonica ‘Little Princess’ I dwarf
- Spiraea japonica ‘Macrophylla’ I compact
- Spiraea bumalda ‘Crispa' I dwarf
- Spiraea x bumalda ‘Flaming mound’ I dwarf
Pure Whites
- Spiraea nipponica ‘Snowmound’ I compact
- Spiraea x arguta 'Garland Spirea' I large
- Spiraea x vanhouttei 'Bridal Wreath' I large
Precious Pinks and Whites
- Spiraea japonica ‘Shirobana’ I dwarf
Lavendar
- Spiraea x bumalda ‘Goldflame’ I dwarf
- Native to northern temperate zones of Eurasia and North America
- Most are hardy to Zones 4 and 3
- Resilient, low-maintenance, easy to grow
- Disease resistant
- Thrives in almost any location - blooms more in full sun
- Prune during blooming season for more prodigious blooms
Spiraea is deciduous and it looks very different in the winter compared to the summer. In the winter, well, quite frankly, it looks dead. So, if you come across it in the garden, don't be tempted to dig it up - the spring and summer flowers are going to be amazing!
Spiraea japonica
‘Anthony Waterer’
This Red Spirea variety is a low growing, spreading shrub, with very attractive clusters of crimson, flat-topped flowers. Grows to 3 ft tall and 4 ft wide.
