Imagine having a garden shrub that's colorful and easy to care for, blooming all year. The spirea flower is your answer. It comes in many beautiful types, each adding something special to your garden. Whether you want tall, elegant branches or neat, small mounds, spirea shrubs are perfect.
But there's more to these plants than meets the eye. Let's explore the eight essential spirea varieties that make your garden beautiful all year. These plants are not just pretty; they're also easy to care for.
Introduction to Spirea Flowers
Spirea is a group of flowering shrubs that are loved for their beauty in gardens and landscapes. They bring interest to the garden all year with their clusters of flowers in pink, purple, red, or white. They also have foliage that changes color and beautiful shapes like elegant branches or neat clusters.
These shrubs are easy to grow and fit many climates. They draw in bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds with their flowers. There are two main types: bridal wreath spirea and Japanese spirea. These plants have leaves that change color from red to green.
Spirea plants can handle cold winters as low as -35°F (-37°C). They should be planted at least 5 feet apart. Bridal wreath spirea is often grown alone. Pruning depends on the type of spirea, with some needing it in early summer and others in fall or spring.
Spireas might get some leaf spots or moth larvae damage but these are minor issues. They are not a favorite of deer. With their variety of colors and shapes, spirea shrubs are a great choice for landscaping. They add beauty to the garden all year.
Spirea Flower Varieties
Spirea is a versatile and diverse group of flowering shrubs. They offer a wide range of varieties for any garden. These hardy plants come in many species and hybrids, each with its own unique features. They are great for accents, specimens, or mass plantings.
The Goldflame Spirea has dark pink summer flowers and leaves that turn golden-orange to lime green. The Snowmound Spirea bursts with bright white flowers in early summer. Spirea plants can grow from 2 feet tall (Magic Carpet Spirea) to 8 feet tall (Renaissance Spirea).
Pruning Spirea shrubs is easy and can be done in winter or early spring. The best times to plant them are in early spring (March to April) and fall (October to November). This helps them establish strong roots before harsh weather hits.
These plants love well-drained soil and full sun. Some can even tolerate partial shade.
McKay Nursery has a wide selection of high-quality Spirea plants. They cater to various garden styles and needs. From the vibrant colors of Japanese Spirea (Spiraea japonica) to the rich fall colors of Birchleaf Spirea (Spiraea betulifolia), there's a Spirea for every landscape.
The Nippon Spirea (Spiraea nipponica) has an upright cascading habit, snow-white flowers, and blue-green foliage that turns yellow in the fall.
For gardeners who want continuous blooms, the Double Play Doozie® Spirea is perfect. It flowers from early summer to frost. Other great varieties include the Double Play® Candy Corn®, Double Play® Gold, and the compact Wedding Cake® Spirea.
Anthony Waterer Spirea
The Anthony Waterer Spirea, or Spiraea x bumalda 'Anthony Waterer', is a classic in gardens. It has a compact, mounded shape, vibrant leaves, and lots of flat-topped umbels of frothy, carmine red flowers in late spring and summer. This shrub is perfect for borders, hedges, and adding beauty to rock gardens or butterfly gardens.
The leaves of the Anthony Waterer Spirea start with a reddish-purple color in spring. They turn deep blue-green in summer. As fall comes, the leaves show off burgundy, purple, and yellow tones, adding beauty to the garden. This shrub grows 2 to 3 feet tall and spreads 3 to 4 feet wide, forming a neat, mounded shape.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Price Range | Starts at $61.99 |
| Mature Plant Size | 2-3 feet in height, 3-4 feet in width |
| Bloom Time | Summer |
| Fall Foliage Color | Burgundy, Purple |
| Flower Color | Pink, with bright crimson initially |
| Warranty | 1-year warranty at 10% of plant price |
| Planting Season | March-April or October-November |
| Pruning | Trim after blooms for re-blooming and rejuvenation |
| Watering Frequency | Every 2-4 days initially, weekly after establishment |
| Pollinator Attraction | Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators |
| Growing Zone | 4-8 |
The Anthony Waterer Spirea is a versatile and striking addition to any garden landscaping project. Its compact, mounded form, vibrant foliage, and stunning summer blooms make it a standout choice for adding color, texture, and structure to spirea shrubs and flowering shrubs throughout the growing season.
Audubon Meadowsweet Spirea
The Audubon® 'Meadowsweet' spirea (Spiraea alba) is a beautiful North American native. It has lovely, conical spires of fragrant white to pale pink flowers. These flowers bloom all summer, drawing in honey bees, bumblebees, and butterflies.
They also attract birds like buntings, goldfinches, and red-winged blackbirds. These birds love the sweet smell and use the flowers for food, nesting, and shelter.
This shrub grows to be three to four feet tall and wide. It has fine-textured leaves that turn golden yellow in the fall. It's great for making barriers, foundations, or adding beauty to butterfly and natural gardens.
It thrives in Hardiness Zones 3 to 7. The 'Audubon Meadowsweet' spirea is easy to care for and adds beauty to any garden.
This shrub attracts many pollinators and helps birds by offering food and shelter. It's perfect for gardeners who want a plant that blooms all season. It's a great choice for adding beauty and biodiversity to your garden.
Bridalwreath Spirea
Bridalwreath spirea is known for its elegant, arching branches covered in small, white to pale pink flowers. These flowers attract bees, birds, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The foliage turns into vibrant colors like orange, purple, and yellow in fall.
This shrub grows large, reaching five to nine feet tall and six to eight feet wide. It's perfect for creating a beautiful barrier, hedge, screen, or as a stand-alone plant. It thrives in full sun and well-draining soils, and is hardy in Zones 4 to 9.
It belongs to the Rosaceae family and is scientifically known as Spiraea prunifolia. Native to Asia, specifically China and Taiwan, it blooms early in spring with double white flowers. The 'Plena' variety is the most common in stores.
This shrub is hardy and easy to care for, with no major pest or disease issues. It's deer and somewhat drought tolerant, making it great for landscaping. You can propagate it through softwood cuttings or seeds during the growing season.
Bridalwreath spirea is a top pick for spirea shrubs, flowering shrubs, and garden landscaping. Its size, spring blooms, and fall colors make it a favorite. It's also easy to care for, making it perfect for any garden.
Double Play Candy Corn Spirea
Meet the Double Play® 'Candy Corn' spirea, a shrub that adds magic to gardens. It's compact and mounded, with magenta-purple flowers that bloom from late spring to early summer. These flowers create a beautiful floral display.
The 'Candy Corn' spirea is known for its changing leaves. In spring, the leaves turn bright red, then glow yellow, and new growth comes in orange. This color change makes the shrub stand out in any garden.
This shrub grows 18 to 24 inches tall and 18 to 30 inches wide. It's perfect for USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8. It's great for borders, containers, and more, thanks to its size and color changes.
Customers love the 'Candy Corn' spirea for its beauty. It draws attention with its size and color. But, some have noted issues with plant health upon delivery. Proper care is key to its success.
The Double Play® 'Candy Corn' spirea is a great choice for gardens. It offers color and texture all season. It's perfect for borders, containers, or as a hedge, making your garden stand out.
Firelight Spirea
The Firelight Spirea is a standout in the spirea family. It's known for its vibrant, colorful leaves that shine all year round. This plant is a real showstopper.
It starts with leaves in deep burgundy and salmon colors. Then, they turn a bright chartreuse. By autumn, the leaves change to burgundy and purple. In midsummer, it blooms with rosy-pink flowers that attract butterflies and bees.
This shrub grows 2 to 3 feet tall and spreads 3 to 4 feet wide. It's perfect for borders, containers, and gardens. It thrives in USDA Zones 4 to 8, making it a dependable choice for your garden.
With its constant color, support for pollinators, and compact size, Firelight Spirea is essential for any garden. It's a top pick for those who want a shrub that blooms all year and adds beauty to their outdoor space.
Glow Girl Spirea
Glow Girl® (Spiraea betulifolia 'Tor Gold') is a captivating compact spirea that enchants with its vibrant four-season display. This hardy birchleaf spirea shines from spring through fall, making it a versatile choice for garden landscaping.
In spring, Glow Girl® delights with its puffball-like clusters of delicate white flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The pretty rounded leaves emerge in a sunshine yellow hue, then transition to lime green before settling into a deep golden tone.
As summer arrives, the foliage continues to glow, creating ornamental mounds that reach 3 to 4 feet high and wide. In fall, the leaves truly dazzle, showcasing a stunning array of chartreuse, orange, and bright red tones.
Glow Girl® spirea is a fantastic addition to borders, barriers, and rockeries, and thrives in containers on the deck, patio, or porch. Hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 9, this compact shrub is an excellent choice for four-season interest in the garden landscaping.
| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Mature Size | 3-4 feet high and wide |
| Bloom Time | Spring |
| Soil Conditions | Normal, sandy, clay/heavy, dry |
| Fall Color | Red, purple |
| Key Features | Attracts bees and butterflies, deer resistant, drought tolerant, salt tolerant |
Whether planted in the ground or incorporated into container gardens, the glow girl spirea brings a captivating touch of color and interest to any flowering shrubs display.
Conclusion
Spirea is a group of flowering shrubs that are perfect for gardens. They come in many colors, foliage hues, and growth habits. You can find spring, summer, or year-round bloomers among them.
These shrubs are easy to care for and attract pollinators and birds. They're great for gardens that support wildlife.
There are over 80 spirea species to choose from, including compact and cascading types. They grow well in different soils and lights, fitting many garden styles. Regular pruning keeps them looking great and encourages more blooms.
Spirea is ideal for gardeners who want low-maintenance, beautiful shrubs. Its variety, seasonal interest, and benefits for wildlife make it a top pick. It's perfect for creating vibrant, sustainable gardens.
