Spirea Japanese planting and care in the open field in Siberia

Spirea, volzhanka or meadowsweet is a plant from the genus of the Rosaceae family. Such a variety as that of a spirea is very rare - there are dwarfs less than 20 cm in height and giants up to 2.5 meters in height. Branches can be upright, recumbent, or outstretched. They also differ in shape and color shades. Since spiria tolerates severe winters well, cultivation is practiced in Siberia and other northern regions.

Well on one site, several types of perennial crops are combined. Budleya and spirea will decorate your garden together.

Spirea varieties for Siberia with a description

Although many species tolerate frost well, they still prefer the most frost-resistant plants. Let's consider the most popular ones.

Gray spiria Greifsheim - densely branched, arched shrub more than one meter high. The lower leaves are light green, and the upper part of the foliage is gray-green. Flowers of a white shade are located throughout the shoot. The first leaves bloom in May, and already at the end of June the fruits ripen. Spiraea gray refers to hybrids - it was obtained by crossing whitish-gray and St. John's worm spirea. It is popular with gardeners in the northern regions, as graveshame tolerates frosty winters well.

Spiria willow Is a cold-resistant plant that tolerates severe winters well. This species became widespread in Europe, Siberia, Japan, North America and China. In nature, it is found in shrubs near water bodies. A bush with reddish-brown shoots, reaches a height of two meters. The upper leaves are dark green in color, and the lower ones are slightly lighter. Short peduncles are collected in short panicles. The flowers are pink and white.

Spirea willow. Photo

Spirea Rosea (pink) - bush up to 1.5 meters high, with beautiful pink flowers. Small flowers, collected in paniculate inflorescences. The shape of the leaves is elongated, up to 10 cm long. In diameter, the bush grows up to 1.5 meters. A distinctive feature of the species is its high resistance to severe winter frosts.

Spyria breeding methods

Four types of propagation of this culture are used - seeds, division of the bush, layering and cuttings. Let's take a quick look at each of them.

Layers - the branches easily bend to the ground, so this breeding method is very popular with gardeners.In the spring, the one-year-old shoot is bent to the ground in the prepared hole and covered with nutritious soil. Sprinkle abundantly with water. Maintain moderate soil moisture throughout the season.

In order for the roots to appear faster, it is recommended to cut the bark on the shoot where it touches the ground.

Dividing the bush - in the fall, carefully dig out a bush. Shake off the ground and divide into several bushes. When dividing, make sure that a sufficiently large root lobe and 2 strong shoots remain. The separated bushes are planted in a new place.

Cuttings - with the correct preparation of cuttings, 7 out of 10 take root and give roots. The time for harvesting cuttings depends on the variety - for summer-flowering spirits, cuttings are harvested in July, and for spring-flowering ones - at the beginning of June. Young shoots are cut off at the base, the bark is scratched in several places and buried in the ground to the leaves. Sprinkle abundantly with water. Before rooting, maintain a moderate soil moisture.

More information about this breeding method is described in the video:

Seeds - this method of reproduction is practiced by breeders to develop new varieties. In rare cases, it is used by gardeners. With this method, the varietal qualities of hybrid spirits are not inherited.

Planting spirea in the spring in open ground

In the spring, it is recommended to plant summer-flowering spirea species. Planting is carried out before the leaves bloom (approximately in May). Planting technology for seedlings:

1. Dig a hole of the right size. A distance of at least 70 cm is left between the holes. For tall varieties, even more - up to 1 meter.
2. The soil from the planting pit is mixed with organic fertilizers. If the soil on the site is clayey, then it is advisable to loosen it by adding a little sand and peat.
3. Expanded clay or broken brick is poured as drainage with a layer of at least 15 cm.The larger the layer, the better - it can be increased to 20 cm.
4. Shoots and long roots are shortened at the seedling. If necessary, pruning of dried roots is carried out.
5. A little fertile soil is poured into the planting hole. They make a small mound, pour water to moisten the lower soil layer.
6. They put the seedling in the hole and cover it with the rest of the earth. Around the bush, the earth is lightly tamped and an earthen rampart is formed.
7. Water the seedling with water and mulch with peat, old sawdust or straw to retain moisture in the soil.

Planting spirea in the fall

If purchased seedlings are planted in the spring, then in the fall they practice dividing the bush. It is important to finish planting before the end of the leaf fall.

Important. Propagated by the method of division, young bushes up to 4 years old. They have a small root system, so it is easy to divide and extract from the ground.

A spirea bush is dug out, cleaned of the ground and lowered into a large container of water. The roots are washed and removed from the water. Lightly dry and divide the bush with pruning shears, leaving two summer shoots and a lobe of roots. Divided bushes are planted on a plot according to a 70x70 cm scheme.

Watering and feeding spirea

The cultivated plant needs regular watering, especially on hot and sunny days. Abundant watering is carried out (1.5 buckets of water each) twice a month. If the soil around the plants is mulched, then the frequency of watering is slightly reduced.

Spirea grows well without feeding. But it will not be superfluous to apply fertilizers before flowering and after pruning. Apply nitrogenous fertilizers for each bush in the spring (for example, mullein). In the fall, they are fed only with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

Spirea pruning

Pruning summer blooming spirea

In the first years of growth, plants do not need pruning. Only remove dried, frozen and damaged shoots. After 7-14 years, old branches are cut out at ground level, and 5 young ones are left for future flowering. Then, a year later, old shoots more than 7 years old are cut off and young ones are left again, etc. Any pruning is carried out in the autumn or early spring.

The average life span of a spirea bush is 20 years. After this age, there is no need to wait for abundant flowering.New seedlings are planted on the site by grafting or dividing the bush.

Shelter spirea for the winter

Under a thick layer of snow, the cultivated plant tolerates frosty winters well. Therefore, it does not need additional shelter. But in order to protect the planted young plants, they tie the shoots into a bunch and bend them to the ground. Cover with a layer of dry leaves about 15 cm, then branches and cover with snow as soon as it falls. Such a shelter protects the spirea from freezing.

With proper care, you can enjoy the beautiful meadowsweet blooms from late spring to mid-summer.

Among the ornamental shrubs, spirea occupies a special place. She is surprisingly unpretentious and easily forgives the gardener even the most unobtrusive care. A wide variety of shapes and types allows you to choose the plant to decorate the site that will best fit into the surrounding landscape. Planting and caring for a spirea is not difficult, even a novice gardener can handle it.

Spirea: types and varieties

The genus spirea belongs to the pink family and is quite numerous, it includes more than 70 species. The distribution area of ​​this deciduous shrub is wide. It can be found in the northern hemisphere in most climatic zones. Spirea rarely has single flowers, most often they are collected in a corymbose inflorescence, sometimes in a panicle. The color of flowers depends on the flowering time of the species. Plants blooming in spring have white flowers that bloom on last year's shoots, in species blooming in summer pink-crimson gamut prevails, flowers are located on annual growths.

The most common types.

• Medium spirea - an inhabitant of Siberian and Far Eastern forests, a tall shrub - above 2 m with white corymbose flowers that open in May and do not fall for 3 weeks, frost-resistant and drought-resistant, used in landscaping, suitable for northern regions.
• Spiraea birch-leaved - grows in Siberia, from 1 to 2 m in height, white flowers are collected in huge shields - up to 10 cm in diameter, blooms at the end of May and blooms throughout June.
• Spirea crenate - has been used in landscaping for 200 years, there are cultural hybrid varieties. In nature, it is a low, up to 1 m shrub that blooms at the end of May. Quite large flowers are collected in corymbose inflorescences, due to the large number of long yellow stamens, it seems that they have a golden hue. This type of spirea is drought-resistant and frost-hardy, can be used to strengthen floating soils.
• Spirea St. John's wort is a shrub up to 1 m high, flowering - May-June, white flowers, is used to obtain new forms of the plant.
• Gray spirea - the result of crossing the previous species and whitish-gray spirea, has highly decorative varieties that bloom in spring. The most beloved variety of this species by flower growers is the Grefsheim spirea. The shoots of the tall bush bend towards the ground under the weight of flowers that completely cover the bush. The flowering is so abundant that the leaves are almost invisible.
• Spiraea is oak-leaved - blooms with umbrella-shaped inflorescences of white flowers with a large number of protruding stamens for 25 days, flowering occurs in May-June. The species is used in culture, it tolerates a haircut well.
• Spirea Nipponskaya came to us from Japan - this highly ornamental shrub 1-2 m high is decorated with yellowish-white inflorescence shields that appear in June. It does not differ in frost resistance; in severe winters, the tops of the shoots freeze slightly, but quickly recover. The most famous variety is Snowmound. A huge number of flowers on a bush up to 1.5 m high makes it very decorative at the time of flowering. The width of the bush is 2 times the height.
• No less decorative and spirea Wangutta is a hybrid species that blooms very profusely in June-July with white flowers collected in shields. The bush has an average height and can freeze slightly in frosty winters.
• Japanese spirea is quite thermophilic, but due to the low height of the bush - up to 1 m it winters without loss, covered with snow. The most interesting varieties are Little Princesses and Shirobana. Little princesses - a bush up to 80 cm high and up to 1.2 m wide blooms very profusely in June-July with pink flowers collected in medium-sized shields, grows slowly. Shirobana is a bush up to 0.8 m high and up to 0.6 m wide, blooms in mid-summer. Flowers in corymbose inflorescences have three colors - white, pink and crimson, if you cut off faded inflorescences, new ones will decorate the bush for another month.
• The adorable spirea stands out among other species by double flowering: in June on last year's shoots and in July and August on newly regrown ones. Flowers are collected in complex shields, can be white or pale pink. The species does not differ in frost resistance - up to -18 degrees, so in the middle lane it hibernates under cover.
• Spirea Bumald is a decorative hybrid species, it also has a yellow-leaved form. The bush is low - up to 0.8 m in width and height. It blooms for more than 3 months with bright pink flowers in large shields. The most famous variety is Antoni Vaterer.
• Willow spirea grows wild in Siberia. The tall bush blooms in July and August with bright pink flowers collected in pyramidal panicles.
• Spirea Douglas grows above 2 m. In the second half of summer, it is decorated with pink flowers, collected in a paniculate inflorescence.
• When crossing the previous species and spirea willow leaf we got Billard's spirea. A tall, frost-resistant shrub blooms in the second half of summer and is decorated with large pink paniculate inflorescences until the very frosts.
• Also, the hybrid spirea is lilac-colored for a long time, only paniculate inflorescences, in accordance with the name, have a lilac-pink color. The bush can grow up to 2 m.

Spirea: features of cultivation

Spireas are unpretentious, but with proper careful care they give abundant flowering. Different flowering times dictate different pruning times. Some species and varieties have special soil and maintenance preferences. Most spirits prefer humus-rich, but not heavy soil without stagnant water, but they will feel good even on not very fertile soil. To keep the roots from getting wet, they need drainage. But before you plant a plant, you need to propagate it.

Shrub propagation

Spirea is very easy to propagate. Some species produce root shoots that can be transplanted. Parts of a divided bush take root well. Flexible shoots allow cuttings to be rooted. For propagation of all species, cuttings can be used, and for non-hybrid forms and varieties, seeds can also be sown.

Cuttings

When rooting the cuttings, you will get an exact copy of the parent plant. Green cuttings in early flowering varieties are cut at the beginning of June, and in late flowering varieties at the end of the month. For already lignified cuttings, the best rooting time is autumn, September or October.

• The annual green shoot is cut and cut into pieces with 5-6 leaves.
• Remove the bottom pair of leaves, cut the rest by half.
• The lower cut is placed in a vessel with an epin solution for 12 hours.
• It is treated with a powdery root stimulant.
• They are planted in a container with loose soil, sprinkled with a layer of sand at an angle of about 40 degrees to stimulate root formation.
• Cover with a film or glass jar and put in a lacy shade under the trees.
• They moisten the soil in the cuttings, preventing it from drying out, and the cuttings themselves are sprayed several times a day.
• In the fall, the container is dropped into the soil, mulched with fallen leaves and covered with a wooden box.
• In the spring, the shelter is removed. After the appearance of young shoots, the plants are planted in the garden in a permanent place.

Seed propagation

In non-hybrid varieties and species, seed germination reaches 80%. Collect them when the boxes turn brown, but have not yet opened. Dose in the room for 2 weeks. You can sow both before winter and in spring.Seeds do not require stratification. Seedlings dive when 2 true leaves are formed. Further care: watering as needed, 2 dressings with full mineral fertilizer. In the fall, seedlings are planted in a seedling bed, and next year in a permanent place. They begin to bloom for 3 years.

Landing in open ground

Proper planting is the key to abundant flowering and plant health. It is very important to maintain the optimal distance between the plants in order to provide them with the necessary nutritional area. When laying a hedge, it is enough to plant spireas 30 cm apart, for a normal planting the distance should be greater, since the bushes grow strongly in width: for tall varieties - about 1 m, for undersized varieties - 0.8 m.

The choice of planting material

Now on sale there are many varieties and hybrids of spirea. The choice of a plant depends, first of all, on what place the spirea will occupy in the landscape design of a particular site. A hedge will require many plants of the same species, it is better if they are tall. As a tapeworm, you can plant an openwork bush with long flowering. On an alpine slide, undersized compact varieties will be appropriate. But whichever variety you choose, the plant should have a developed and healthy root system, consisting of 3 taproots and a well-developed lobe covered with a clay mash. With spring planting, not swollen buds, and with autumn planting, already flown leaves. It is best to choose a container-grown seedling that can be planted throughout the growing season.

How and when to plant?

Spirea is planted in pre-dug holes. Their size should be slightly larger than the root system of the plant. Usually the depth is about 70 cm, 20 of which falls on the drainage of expanded clay or brick fragments. The diameter of the hole is determined by the size of the roots.

Landing Algorithm:

• a plant is placed on a mound of earth poured in a hole, spreading the roots;
• fill up the earth, taking into account that the root collar is strictly at the level of the soil;
• watered in the planting circle using 2 to 3 buckets of water;
• mulch the soil around the bush with a layer of peat 7 cm thick.

Planting time depends on the selected variety: late flowering plants are planted in spring, early flowering plants in autumn, but no later than 3-4 weeks before the onset of frost.

Soil preparation and site

The planting site should be well lit by the sun, a little shading is allowed during the day. It must be remembered that in the shade of the spirea it blooms badly.

This plant is undemanding to the soil. The preferred soil for spirea is light sod or leafy, with a neutral or slightly acidic soil reaction. Heavy clay soils are improved by the addition of sand and peat; a little clay should be added to light sandy soils. From fertilizers, you can add Art. tablespoons of long-acting ABA fertilizer for each bush. This amount will be enough for the plant for several years.

The nuances of planting in spring, autumn

If the variety blooms in summer, it is better to plant it in spring, early flowering varieties are planted in autumn, but so that the bushes take root before the onset of frost. In both cases, the plants must be dormant. In the spring, the buds should not swell yet, and in the fall the leaf fall should already end.

Outdoor care for spirea

An unpretentious plant does not require special care measures, but top dressing and watering made on time will provide it with maximum decorative effect.

How to water properly?

Spirea is a drought-resistant plant, but in extreme heat and in the absence of rain for a long time, it must be watered. This is especially true for recently planted bushes. For an adult plant, the watering rate is 1.5 buckets per bush. For undersized species and varieties, one bucket is enough. Watering is sufficient once every 2 weeks, well soaking the root layer.

Fertilization and feeding

In order for the spireas to grow and bloom well, they should be fed regularly.

You can choose the following power plan:

• in spring, nitrogen mineral or organic fertilizer; for early flowering varieties, additional feeding with complete mineral fertilizer with microelements is needed;
• in June, plants are fed with full mineral fertilizer;
• at the end of August, fertilizing with phosphorus and potassium salts is needed so that the spireas are better prepared for winter.

At the end of summer, spireas cannot be fed with any fertilizers containing nitrogen, this can provoke the growth of new shoots that do not have time to ripen and freeze in winter.

All dressings can be applied both dry and liquid, combining them with watering. The next day, the soil around the plant must be loosened.

Spirea pruning

It is held on several dates, depending on the destination.

• Spring pruning is sanitary. Only dry and frost-damaged shoots are removed.
• Formative. Spireas blooming in the summer on the shoots of the current year are pruned in the spring immediately after the snow melts, combining formative pruning with sanitary pruning. Thin branches thickening the bush are removed - they will not give a good flowering. Different types of spirea have their own subtleties in pruning. Douglas and Boomald spire pruning begins only in the fourth year of life. Miniature varieties not exceeding 40 cm in height are cut into 2 buds. Cut out shoots with foliage that does not match the color of the variety. After flowering, the seed pods are removed, if there is no need for seeds - this contributes to the re-blooming of the inflorescences. It is enough to cut off a third of the shoot. The green hedge is trimmed to give the desired shape. Spring-flowering spireas form after flowering, cutting off shoots at the level of a strong young growth. The crown of the bush should be symmetrical.
• Anti-aging pruning. It is carried out in adult bushes, starting from the 7th year of life. All old shoots are removed, leaving no more than 5-7 young ones, while maintaining the symmetry of the bush. This pruning is best done in several stages, so as not to greatly weaken the bush.

Preparing for winter

The first wintering at a recently planted bush is a serious test. But adult plants, despite the frost resistance of most varieties, and species also need to be prepared for winter. For many of them, it is enough to feed the plants in August with potash and phosphorus fertilizers, to carry out moisture-charging irrigation after leaf fall and to mulch the trunk circle with humus.

For less frost-resistant varieties, you will have to build a shelter:

• tie the branches into a bunch;
• bend the beam to the ground, fixing it with special fasteners;
• fall asleep with dry leaves;
• additionally throw in snow.

Plant diseases and pests

Spiraea rarely suffers from disease, but in a damp summer it can be damaged by powdery mildew and gray mold. To eliminate them, copper-containing fungicides, Fitosporin, colloidal sulfur are used.

Among the most common pests are aphids, blue meadow sawfly, whitefly and spider mites. Insecticides are effective against the first three: Fitoverm, Actellik. Insectoacaricides are suitable against the tick: Metaphos.

The nuances of growing in Siberia, the Urals, in the Moscow region

Almost all varieties and types of spirea are suitable for growing in central Russia. Shrubs such as Japanese Spirea and Nippon Spirea need additional winter shelter.

In the Urals, the climate is more severe. In its southern part, almost all types of spirits will grow well. In the middle lane and, especially in the north, frost-resistant shrubs should be preferred. The same can be said for spirea in Siberia. Only undersized varieties are able to overwinter under the snow without much loss. If medium and tall plants are not covered, then constant frosting in winter is guaranteed to them, decorativeness and abundant flowering cannot be achieved in such conditions.

Correctly selected varieties of spirea are able to create a flowering conveyor throughout the growing season and will be a real decoration of any garden.

Spirea, planting and caring for which is not difficult, can be planted and grown without unnecessary trouble, so the shrub is of great interest and attention for many gardeners. The plant does not require undue attention, but it blooms very beautifully, which is why it is so fond of many summer residents. To grow a gorgeous shrub, you first need to learn the biological characteristics and cultivation techniques ...

Varieties of spirea, varieties and hybrids

Spirea (lat. Spiraea) includes up to 100 species, each of which has its own name. Rarely, but you can hear or read another name - meadowsweet, whose origins stretch from ancient Russia. Spirea varieties are very diverse in shape, color and even leaf shape. The shrub belongs to perennial plants, so every year you can observe how the spirea grows and becomes more lush.

Spirea is unpretentious to care for, sometimes due to weather conditions due to a lack of light and heat it grows with fewer flowers, but it invariably remains beautiful. There are spring-flowering and summer-flowering spireas. In spring flowers, the flowers are predominantly white, they are formed on the shoots of the second year, in the month of May the bush becomes covered with beautiful inflorescences:

oak-leaved spirea is a weeping bush, can grow up to two meters and bloom earlier than other varieties, after May 10-15. The shrub is completely covered with flowers;

in the photo - oak-leaved spirea

spirea Arguta (sharp-serrated) begins to bloom in the last days of May. The shrub has narrow leaves, drooping branches, grows up to 1.5-2 m in height;

spirea gray (ashy), often referred to as the bride. It is distinguished by its splendor, pubescent leaves of a grayish-green hue, small and white flowers. The abundance and splendor of flowers is simply mesmerizing.

A fairly large number of shrubs belong to spring flowering, among them the Nipponskaya spirea stands out. It is a small shrub (up to 1 m), in the shape of a ball, blooms closer to June. Another representative of the spirea Wangutta is a vigorous plant (2.3-2.5 m) with long flexible shoots, gray green leaves. Flowering begins in the second half of June.

Summer spirea is mostly pink in color and blooms in June or July, depending on the characteristics of the variety. This group includes Japanese spirea, which has many subspecies and varieties. The most common and famous are Nana, Little Princesses, Darts Red, Shirobana, and others.

White-flowered spirea is one of the representatives of the summer-flowering species, characterized by white flowers with a pronounced pleasant aroma, 0.6-0.7 m high. Billard's spirea is a hybrid, very frost-resistant. The leaves are wide, flowers of a delicate pink hue, bloom in July and bloom for quite a long time. Bumald's spirea, which belongs to hybrids, is well-known. The bushes have a height of 0.6-1.2 m, depending on the variety planted. Average winter hardiness, sometimes requires additional shelter (when grown in the northern regions, in the Urals and Siberia).

Agricultural technology of planting spirea

When is it better to plant spirea? Spirea can be planted in spring and autumn. In the spring, only summer flowering is planted, with the condition that the leaves have not bloomed on the seedlings. The roots of the plant should not be dry, carefully examine the spirea when buying. Shoots should be flexible with good buds. In the case when the roots have been dried, put the spirea in water with the addition of any root formation stimulator (Kornesil, Kornevin, Heteroauxin, Zircon, etc.).

Where to plant the spirea? Choose a sunny, well-lit area with fertile soil. Please note that the shrub grows over time and forms root shoots, so do not plant near tall, large trees. The best neighbors for spirea will be juniper, thuja, small spruces.

Correct planting of the spirea presupposes the presence of a planting pit, which is dug a couple of days before planting the shrub. Drainage from pebbles, chipped bricks, and other materials is placed on the bottom, with a layer of 15-20 cm. For heavy clay lands, it is necessary to add sod, leafy soil (2 parts) and peat chips (1 part). The depth of the hole is dug depending on the size of the root system of the spirea, usually 2.5-3 times more.

The seedling is installed vertically, covered with fertile soil, without deepening the root collar, which should be slightly above the surface of the ground or at the level. It is better to plant a shrub in cloudy gloomy weather or in the evening hours. Watering the spirea after planting is mandatory, pour one or two buckets of water under the bush so that the roots are sufficiently moistened.

In the fall, you can plant spring-flowering and summer-flowering spirea. It is worth noting that the reproduction of spirea is carried out in the fall, by dividing the bush. It is necessary to take into account the timing of planting spirea in the autumn, which have a fairly wide range, depending on the region of cultivation.

Plants are planted before the beginning of leaf fall, with the condition of complete rooting of the plant before the arrival of frost. Usually, in central Russia, spirea is planted in September-October, if the weather permits. In the Urals and Siberia, the work must be completed by October.

Proper care is the key to beauty and abundant flowering

Spirea is quite undemanding in leaving. For good lush flowering and normal growth, the shrub needs a lot of sunlight, fertile land and watering. Shelter of the spirea for the winter is not always required, only in the northern regions with a harsh cold climate and young plants planted in autumn.

A spirea planted in spring should be well watered, especially in the southern regions, in the Kuban, where spring and summer can be quite hot. In summer, pay special attention to watering, make sure that the soil in the near-trunk circle does not turn into an earthen crust, it is important for recently planted spirea plants.

The space near the trunk can be covered with peat to create an optimal microclimate and moisture retention. Instead of peat, you can use humus, which will retain moisture and will be a good fertilizer that feeds the spirea.

in the photo - spirea

It is necessary to fertilize the spirea only if necessary, the shrub grows well without additional fertilizing. Usually, nutrition is given in early spring, using a mineral fertilizer with a nitrogen content. In the fall, only phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are applied so that the plant gains strength for wintering. Nitrogen fertilizers and mullein should not be applied starting from August, so as not to cause the growth of young shoots.

Caring for the spirea, many gardeners carry out pruning not only to give an aesthetic appearance, but also for the purpose of sanitation, removing weakened, dry, broken branches. Although the plant is rarely infested with pests or more, sanitation is necessary once a year. Spirea pruning is carried out in the fall or spring. It is advisable to cut adult powerful bushes in the autumn, so that the flowering is more abundant in the spring. Young seedlings, as a rule, do not need to be cut in the winter; it is better to do this in the spring, when it will be seen how the plant has overwintered (the frozen shoots are removed).

Reproduction of spirea is quite easy, it can be bred by cuttings, layering or seeds (with the exception of hybrid varieties). We decided to grow a spirea from seeds, then take the usual varieties (not hybrids). You will need a container, box, other container in which peat is placed, well moistened. Seeds are sown, covered with foil, planting is placed in a warm place. When the seedlings grow a little, they make a pick. They are planted in open ground when the threat of frost has passed, mulch and monitor irrigation. Spirea grown from seeds will begin to bloom no earlier than 2-3 years later.

Spirea can be propagated by cuttings green or lignified. Cuttings are carried out in the month of June.Take a good pruner with a sharp blade and cut off the young shoots at the base (in the root zone). Leaves can be left, and the bark can be scratched with pruning shears, so the formation of roots will begin faster. Cuttings are buried in the ground to the beginning of the growth of leaves, be sure to watered.

Reproduction by layering is carried out in the spring with the appearance of the first leaves. The healthy young and bending shoot they like is bent to the ground, fixed with iron brackets and covered with earth, regularly watered. The division of the spirea bush must be carried out with a sharp shovel, in early spring, carefully cutting off the necessary part, which then needs to be transplanted to a new place.

Japanese spirea - a beautiful ornamental plant

Japanese spirea has all the qualities of an ideal garden plant.

It is not whimsical, it multiplies easily, and with its decorative foliage and luxurious flowering is able to decorate any landscape.

This explains the great love of gardeners and designers for Japanese spirea.

General characteristics of the plant

Spirea (or in Latin Spiraea) is a bright representative of the Rosaceae family. It is a flowering deciduous shrub that has easily adapted to our climate and is grown in many regions of Russia.

The genus Spirea includes at least 90 plant species. About half of the wild species have been introduced into horticultural culture. Thanks to the efforts of breeders, new varieties of spirea regularly appear.

The most popular was Japanese spirea (or in Latin Spiraea japonica), which came to us from Japan and China. It is not whimsical and is very loved by gardeners for its decorative foliage and luxurious, abundant and long flowering.

To learn how to properly plant and grow Chinese magnolia vine, read the article.

You can also find out a lot of useful information about the delphinium, its planting and care.

The elliptical or ovoid leaves of the plant have an interesting feature. In spring, starting to bloom, they are painted in red-brownish shades, in summer they turn green, and by autumn they again acquire a reddish color. Using this effect, breeders have created many varieties with unusual foliage that does not change throughout the season.

The pink-red flowers of the plant are collected in lush thyroid inflorescences with a diameter of 5 to 30 cm, depending on the variety. Among the representatives of a kind of spirea, Japanese is the record holder for the duration of flowering.

In mid or late June, it becomes covered with fragrant flower caps and continues to bloom until autumn. During the flowering of the Japanese spirea, it is a very spectacular sight.

According to the flowering period, all cultivated species of the Spirea genus are divided into spring flowering (from the end of May) and summer flowering (from the end of June). Japanese spirea belongs to summer flowering.

For more information on Japanese spirea, see the video:

Varieties of Japanese spirea

Through the efforts of breeders on the basis of Japanese spirea, more than 50 varieties have been bred, and each of them has its own special charm.

Little princesses - a small oval shrub up to 60 cm high. The leaves are dark green, and red-pink flowers up to 4 cm in diameter form corymbose inflorescences.

Golden princesses - shrub up to 1 m in height with red-pink inflorescences and yellow foliage.

Goldflame - an interesting variety with small red-pink flowers and changing foliage. At first, the leaves are yellow-orange in color, then they become bright yellow, then green-yellow, and in the fall - copper-orange.

Shirobana - low form up to 60 cm high and wide crown up to 1.2 m in diameter. It blooms in pink or white in late July.

Crisp - undersized shrub up to 50 cm tall. Small, pale pink flowers with a lilac shade are collected in umbellate inflorescences. Flowering begins in July and lasts for about two months.

Macrophylla - an interesting form with wrinkled leaves, in the color of which there are red and purple shades throughout the summer.It blooms with umbellate inflorescences of a delicate pink color.

Varieties of Japanese spirea are presented in the photo:

Landing

Japanese spirea is planted in the spring. The main thing is to have time to plant the plant before the leaves begin to bloom. Seedlings can be purchased at garden centers. They are sold with open roots or in containers filled with soil.

When buying a seedling, carefully inspect the roots, making sure that they are not overdried. Also check the condition of the young shoots.

In a healthy plant, the shoots should be flexible, with strong buds.

If you got spirea with overdried roots, pour them thoroughly with water or soak them in water for 15 minutes. Before planting, carefully trim off damaged and overgrown roots.

Spirea is known for its unpretentiousness, however, in order for it to reveal itself in all its glory, it is advisable to provide it with the best conditions. Choose a place for the plant that is sunny and with fertile soil.

When choosing a site, keep in mind that the shrub produces abundant root growth, which increases the area occupied by the plant.

We plant the Japanese spirea as follows:

1. We dig a planting hole with a size one third larger than the volume of the roots of the seedling. Let the pit stand for 2 to 4 days.
2. For planting, choose a cloudy or rainy day. At the bottom of the pit, we lay a drainage layer of small broken bricks about 20 cm thick.
3. We compose the soil for the seedling from 3 parts of sod land, 2 parts of humus soil, 1 part of peat and 1 part of sand.
4. We lower the roots of the seedling into the planting hole, straighten them, fill them with the prepared earthen mixture along the root collar and compact the earth.
5. Spill the plant with one or two buckets of water and mulch with peat.
6. After planting, we make several near-stem depressions to retain atmospheric moisture and water after watering.

You can learn more about the cultivation of actinidia and its popular varieties here.

Also read about the daylily, planting and caring for it.

Japanese spirea care

Spirea has minimal care requirements. Water it sparingly. In dry weather, provide the plant with 20 liters of water per bush twice a month.

Keep the foot of the spirea loose and free of weeds. Mulching with crushed bark, peat or compost helps a lot in this.

In order for the spirea to delight you with lush and long flowering, it is useful to pamper it with liquid dressings twice during the summer. Fertilize the plant for the first time after spring pruning with a solution of complex mineral fertilizer. The second time, feed the spirea in July with mullein infusion at the rate of 1 to 3 liters per bush. Superphosphate (10 g per 10 liters of infusion) can be added to the mullein solution.

Spirea is quite hardy and firmly endures winter cold. However, for fear of a snowless and too cold winter, take care and cover the roots of the plant with a layer of foliage 15-20 cm thick.

Pruning

Spirea grows rapidly and grows actively, therefore it needs an annual spring haircut. Shorten shoots to strong, large buds. Remove weak, broken and frost-damaged shoots.

Spirea at the age of 4 years can be shortened more boldly, leaving only 30 cm in height of the shoots. The more you prune the plant, the more powerful and luxuriant the bush will grow. Remember to remove old and dying branches.

Reproduction

Seeds

Seeds are sown in spring in a container with a peat-soil mixture. Grown up seedlings in June or July are planted in open ground, pinching the tip of the main root so that a more powerful root system develops.

Spirea grown from seed blooms in the 3rd or 4th year. At the same time, you should be aware that propagation by seeds does not preserve varietal characteristics.

Cuttings

Reproduction of Japanese spirea by cuttings

Annual shoots in July are cut into cuttings with 5 or 6 leaves.The lower leaves are removed, and the cuttings are kept in the Epin solution for 12 hours. Then they are treated with "Kornevin" and placed in a wet sandy substrate for rooting.

The cuttings are covered with foil or glass and sprayed with water three times a day. In the fall, with the appearance of roots, the cuttings are planted in a garden bed, covered with leaves, covered with a box and left until spring. In late spring, when the cuttings have new shoots, they are planted in a permanent place.

By dividing the bush

In the fall, without waiting for the end of the leaf fall, the spirea is dug out at the age of 3 or 4 years. In this case, you need to try to dig in a circle with a diameter of more than half the crown.

The roots are washed well and divided with pruning shears into two or three bushes so that all the cuttings have a good root lobe and two or three strong shoots.

They dig a hole, put a mound on its middle, set a plant on it and level the roots. Next, the hole with the seedling is sprinkled with earth, compacted and spilled with water.

Pests and diseases

Spirea is very rare, but it can be attacked by aphids and spider mites. Treatment of the plant with a solution of Dalmatian chamomile, karbofos, capsicum or tobacco leaves helps to get rid of aphids. Such drugs as "Aktara" and "Actellik" cope with spider mites.

Japanese spirea in landscape design

In the design of gardens and parks, spirea is simply irreplaceable. It is distinguished by a wide variety of varieties of different shapes and colors, does not oppress other plants and tolerates pruning well. The plant looks great both in a small garden and in a solid country estate.

Spirea perfectly complements the composition of low trees and ornamental green shrubs. A spirea bush strewn with flowers on a green lawn looks spectacular. She is also amazingly good in a rocky garden with thuja, juniper, cypress and low spruce trees.

Spirea japanese golden princesses in landscape design

Spirea is perfect for "padding" larger shrubs: lilac, viburnum, mock orange, rhododendron, barberry and buldenezh. Low-growing plant varieties can often be found in rockeries.

Designers actively use Japanese spirea as a hedge, since it is a cheap planting material and is easy to form. With frequent pruning, the spirea does not bloom, but the decorative multi-colored foliage of some of its varieties more than makes up for the missing flowering.

If your site does not yet have a beautiful Japanese spirea, be sure to get one. As you can see, it requires very little attention and care, but in gratitude it gives much more - a scattering of elegant inflorescences on a lush, spreading bush.

Jul 22, 2015Elena Tymoshchuk