Japanese Spirea
Spirea, Spirea x vanhoutei, Bridal Wreath Baby’s Breath or whatever you call it, has beautiful small white clusters of blooms in spring. Southern homeowners have planted them alternated beside azaleas for years. The pink variety, pink spirea however, is a deciduous shrub that you may want to consider for your garden even in the heat of the summer.
The foliage is alternate, simple dark green leaves, 1-3 inches long with pinkish purple new growth. The flowers are deep pink on flat-topped stems on new growth. it has a medium to fine texture. The plant form is broad, flat topped, dense twiggy with erect stems. Grows to about 2 feet tall by 3 to 5 feet wide in zones 2 to 9. It performs better in cooler parts of the state.
This shrubby plant is tough as it tolerates a range of soils except wet soil. It has delicate looking pink blooms in the spring. It blooms later than other spireas with repeat flushes of blooms throughout the summer and early fall. Plant in full sunlight with good drainage. Water regularly or when dry. Fertilize in late winter. The plant should be deadheaded each time blooms have finished to encourage new blooms. Prune to thin out old non-productive wood. Can be showcased in a container, plant bed or as a hedge. Performs better in cooler parts of the state.
‘Anthony Waterer’ and ‘Gold Flame’ are popular cultivars.
submitted by Karen Blackburn