About

An upright deciduous shrub with slender dark green leaves, bronze-red when young, often margined and irregularly variegated with cream and pink, producing domed clusters of rosy-red flowers in late summer.

About the genus

Spiraea are deciduous shrubs, sometimes suckering, with simple leaves and short racemes, panicles or corymbs of small, 5-petalled white or pink flowers in spring or summer

Growing conditions

SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand, Clay
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6

Plant details

Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread1-1.5 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens

Care notes

CultivationEasy to grow in most moist soils, tolerant of all but the most extreme conditions in full sun or light shade. Especially suitable for mixed borders
PruningPruning group 6. If overgrown, can be renovated by cutting back hard immediately after flowering
PropagationPropagate by softwood or semi-ripe cuttings in spring to late summer or hardwood cuttings in winter
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free but may be susceptible to honey fungus