Spirea the best varieties

Spirea is a genus of ornamental deciduous shrubs, of the pink family. Another name is meadowsweet.

Spirea is quite unpretentious in care. There are about a hundred varieties of this plant.

Spireas grow in steppe, forest-steppe and semi-desert areas. The first mention of meadowsweet dates back to the 15th century. Four centuries later, V. Dahl entered all the information about this plant into his dictionary.

Today there are a large number of varieties of spirits, distinguished by their decorative appearance, frost resistance and long flowering period.

Spirea appearance

Spirea shrub can be miniature (up to 15 cm high) and high (up to 2.5 m).

The plant has a fibrous root system located at a shallow depth. Branches can either spread along the ground, or be erect, spreading or lying. Their color ranges from light brown to dark brown. The bark may delaminate longitudinally.

The petiole leaves are arranged alternately, can have a lobed, lanceolate or rounded shape. The flowers are small, but their number is quite large, they form a variety of inflorescences. Their shades are different: from snow-white to bright crimson. Flowers can be distributed both evenly throughout the branch, and only at the tips of the shoots.

Reproduction occurs in four ways:

• division of the bush;
• seeds;
• layering;
• grafting.

Spirea is used for flower beds and for creating hedges. Any rockery and stone garden cannot do without dwarf meadowsweet.

You can also make living green carpets from miniature spirits. A single meadowsweet shrub also looks good.

Varieties of spirits

The types of spirea are divided depending on the flowering period:

Spring blooming. They are distinguished by early flowering and flowers of various tones of white, which appear in the 2nd year of the life of the branches. These varieties have a rather lush bush shape.

The spring-flowering species include gray spirea, gray spirea Grefsheim, Vankutta spirea, Argut spirea. All of them belong to white spireas;

Summer blooming. Blossom in summer. Flowers bloom at the tips of young branches, and old branches dry out over time. Flowers can be of different colors. A striking representative is Japanese spirea. It has many varieties.

There are also other varieties of spirits that bloom in the summer. An example would be willow spirea, spirea of ​​Boomald, Douglas, Billard and others.

How to grow spirea

Planting and caring for spireas is not very difficult. The land for meadowsweet should be leafy or soddy. For a shrub, a mixture of earth, sand and peat in a 2: 1: 1 ratio is perfect.

Drainage is imperative.The hole in which it is planned to plant the spirea should be 1/3 larger than the size of the roots of the bush, its depth should be at least 0.5 m. It is very important that the root collar is located on the surface of the earth.

It is recommended to plant meadowsweet on a cloudy day, the best option is if it is raining. The best month for planting is September.

The plant can also be planted in spring. Spirea favorably tolerates the neighborhood of juniper, fir trees, thuja.

The meadowsweet prefers well-lit places. Some varieties thrive in shaded areas as well. The soil must be fertile, it is recommended to loosen it regularly. A drainage layer is required. It is advisable to mulch the bush immediately after transplanting. Peat is perfect for this.

The plant loves moderate watering - 15 liters of water twice a month. Systematic weed removal is a must.

You can feed the bush using a complex fertilizer. Top dressing is recommended after cutting the plant, and in July it is a good idea to use a mixture of manure and superphosphate (10 g per 10 l).

Spirea can suffer from aphids and spider mites. To get rid of the tick, karbofos is recommended, and pyrimor will perfectly destroy aphids. But, in general, spireas are quite resistant to pests.

Spirea needs systematic pruning, as it grows over time. In spring-flowering varieties, once a year in spring or summer, only the ends of the shoots are cut, and after 7-14 years it is necessary to remove all old branches, for which the bush is sheared to a hemp state. A new bush is formed from a new growth (5-6 shoots).

After a couple of years, poorly growing and old branches are cut again. Pruning of late-flowering meadowsweets is practiced in the first spring months. This procedure should be carried out at least once a year. The more you cut off the branches, the more powerful the new branches will be.

It is necessary to get rid of old shoots in a timely manner. The four-year-old shrub can be pruned to a height of 30 cm each year.

Ornamental spirea bushes will perfectly decorate your garden. They are easy to care for, they are quite frost-hardy, and their lifespan is long enough. It is a great choice for gardeners.

Spirea photo

Spirea is prominent among the ornamental shrubs. For lush flowering, unpretentiousness and frost resistance, she won the love of summer residents, landscape designers and breeders. But some types and varieties of spirea are held in high esteem.

The name of this shrub, translated from Latin, means "bend": the branches of the plant form a graceful arc. People sometimes call the spirea a meadowsweet, but this is not true. Meadowsweet and spirea have similar inflorescences, but they are different plants.

Spirea is a shrub of the Rosaceae family, which has almost a hundred species. All of them are undemanding to growing conditions, multiply easily, grow quickly, bloom for a long time, tolerate a haircut well and have many other advantages. Today, spirea is widely used to decorate summer cottages and city parks.

Spirea can live on the site for tens of years

The height of the spirea can vary from 50 cm to 2.5 m. The flowering time - depending on the species - occurs in spring, summer or autumn. The shape of the crown is spherical, weeping, pyramidal, cascading or erect. In addition to flowers, spireas also decorate the site with decorative foliage. Many varieties have been bred with an openwork leaf shape. In autumn, they change color to bright red, yellow, orange.

All types of spirea are divided into two large groups: spring-flowering and summer-flowering.

Spring flowering spireas and their varieties

Spring species of spirea form inflorescences of predominantly white and cream shades. Flowering is usually very lush, at this time the bush becomes like a white cloud. Due to this, spring spireas are sometimes called May snow. We list some of the most common types of this type.

Spirea Wangutta (Spiraea x vanhouttei)

This hybrid spirea is a medium to tall shrub, which at the end of May is covered with a dense cascade of white flowers. Tall varieties look great singly, while lower varieties look great in mixed plantings. Spirea Wangutta is also suitable for hedges.

The most popular variety is Pink Ice, with variegated leaves and creamy buds.

Spirea Wangutta Pink Ice is an ideal plant for specimen planting

Spirea oak-leaved (Spiraea chamaedryfolia)

One of the first to bloom - in early or mid-May. The shrub grows up to 1.5 m, sometimes slightly taller. This species reproduces well with root shoots, so it is often planted in city parks. Also, the oak-leaved spiraea easily tolerates a haircut, therefore it is excellent for hedges.

Spiraea oak-leaved - not only an ornamental plant, but also a good honey plant

Spirea nippon (Spiraea nipponica)

It is a lower ball-shaped shrub. Its height usually does not exceed 1 m. It blooms very profusely in late May and June. The varieties Snowmound and Halvard Silver are especially effective.

Spirea Nipponskaya varieties Snowmound (left) and Halvard Silver (right)

Spirea Thunberg (Spiraea thunbergii)

In the wild, Thunberg spirea is found on mountain slopes and in valleys. The bush reaches a height of no more than 1.5 m. Its dense branches are covered with graceful leaves, which in autumn change their color from green to orange. Lush white inflorescences adorn the spirea from May to June. The plant prefers sunny places and in the middle lane it can freeze slightly in severe winters.

The most popular varieties are Fujino Pink (with pale pink inflorescences on drooping branches) and Ogon (with golden-green willow-like leaves and white inflorescences).

Spirea Thunberg Fujino Pink (left) and Fire (right)

Spirea crenate (Spiraea crenata)

Spectacular shrub up to 1 m in height with a loose crown and obovate leaves of a grayish-green color with a characteristic crenate edge and protruding veins. Yellowish-white flowers are collected in corymbose inflorescences.

Thanks to the well-developed root system of the spirea, the crenate is not afraid of frost or drought.

Spirea gray (Spiraea x cinerea)

It is a hybrid of Spiraea hypericifolia and whitish-gray spirea (Spiraea cana). The plant is a shrub up to 2 m high with branched shoots, gray-green pointed leaves and white flowers, collected in loose inflorescences-shields. This spirea blooms in May - early June.

The Grafsheim variety is especially interesting. It is a small densely branched shrub with arched drooping branches, narrow leaves and large white double flowers.

Grafsheim is not only a very beautiful, but also a perfect unpretentious variety. The bush grows very quickly, tolerates a haircut well, is not afraid of the cold and does not need good lighting

Summer flowering spireas and their varieties

In spring spirits, flower buds are formed on two-year-old shoots, and in summer spirits, on the shoots of the current season. Therefore, they are often cut off. Summer-flowering spireas are distinguished by inflorescences, as a rule, of different shades of red and pink. Here are the most famous species.

Spirea willow (Spiraea salicifolia)

It usually grows from 1 to 2.5 m. From the end of June, the upright shrub is covered with light pink inflorescences. Light foliage, similar in shape to willow, takes on a red tint in the fall.

Willow spirea is most often grown in hedges.

The most popular in gardens is the large-flowered form of willow spirea (f. Grandiflora) - with more lush light pink flowers.

White-flowered spirea (Spiraea albiflora)

It is named so because it is one of the few summer species with white flowers. It blooms for a long time from the second half of summer, exudes a pleasant aroma. The bush is usually low - 1-1.5 m.

Of the bred varieties, it is worth noting Macrophila. Its foliage changes color twice: young leaves are red, gradually they turn green, and in autumn they turn yellow.

Spirea white-flowered variety Macrofila is famous for its large leaves

Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica)

This is the most common spirea. It has a small height (usually about 50 cm), blooms for one and a half to two months, starting in mid-summer. Looks good in curbs and group plantings.

Among the many varieties, one of the most spectacular is Shirobana.On one bush, flowers of white, pink and red shades are found at the same time. Also good are the Golden Princess varieties (distinguished by golden foliage), Gold Mound (the leaves are also golden, but darker and with a pink tip).

Japanese spirea varieties Shirobana, Golden Princesses and Gold Mound (from left to right)

Spirea Douglas (Spiraea douglasii)

Shrub up to 1.5 m high with straight, reddish-brown, pubescent shoots, oblong-lanceolate silvery-green leaves and dark pink flowers, collected in narrow pyramidal or paniculate inflorescences. The plant blooms from July to August for approximately 45 days.

Spirea Douglas is often used to strengthen slopes and slopes

Spirea Bumalda (Spiraea x bumalda)

This hybrid of Japanese and white-flowered spirits is found in gardens even more often than its "parents". Spirea Bumalda is a short shrub (up to 75 cm) with a spherical crown, erect branches, ovate-lanceolate leaves and pink or crimson flowers.

The most popular varieties:

• Gold Flame (pink flowers, leaves when blooming are bronze-orange, later - golden-yellow, in summer - greenish-yellow, and in autumn - copper-orange);
• Darts Red (inflorescences of a deep crimson color, leaves when blooming are pinkish, in summer they are dark green, and in autumn they are red).

Spirei Gold Flame (left) and Darts Red (right)

Spirea Billard (Spiraea x billardii)

This is a winter-hardy hybrid of Douglas spirea and willow spirea. The bush grows up to 2 m in height, differs in broadly lanceolate leaves and pubescent bright pink inflorescences that adorn the plant in the second half of summer.

The most popular variety is Triumfans (with purple-pink spike-shaped inflorescences).

Spirea Billard Triumfans is suitable for creating hedges, as well as for group and single plantings in gardens and parks

Spirea goes well with other plants. It can be flowering shrubs and strict conifers. Planting a spirea allows you to cover the leafless part of the lilac and other shrubs and trees bare from below. Miniature varieties will find their place among stones on an alpine slide or in a rockery. And from tall spirits beautiful hedges are obtained. Select a corner in the flower garden for a charming spirea - and you will not regret it!

Spirea is a genus of deciduous ornamental shrubs of the Pink family. They are found in forest, forest-steppe and semi-deserts, as well as mountainous regions in the north. In the Asian part, one of the borders passes through the Himalayas, the other through the territory of Mexico.

There are about 100 varieties of spirits. Some of them are frost-resistant, tolerate drought and need good quality soil. Reproduction takes place by cuttings, dividing bushes, and also growing from seeds.

Description of spirea

Spireas are distinguished by a wide variety of shapes and colors, depending on the type and variety of the bush. Some specimens tend to change color from one to another closer to autumn. The height of certain species may exceed the 2 m mark.

Delicate flowering of spirea will decorate your garden

The flowering of spring varieties is short, in summer species it is longer and more massive. The first flowering occurs in the 3rd year of the plant's life, and this may be the opening of only a few buds.

The range of application of plants is very diverse. They are used for medicinal purposes, forestry, landscape design. The root system of plants perfectly strengthens the soil.

When choosing a variety, pay attention to the flowering period of the crop.

All spireas can be divided into two large groups:

1. A group of spring-flowering spirits.
2. A group of summer-flowering spirits.

Spring flowering spireas: characteristics of varieties

The category includes representatives of spirits, the flowering of which occurs in spring or at the very beginning of summer. In these varieties, buds are laid on last year's branches. Therefore, shrubs should be cut off only after the culture has completely faded.

Spirea gray

Hybrid shrub. Bred in the middle of the 20th century. It has a branched structure with felt shoots. About 2 m high.

Spirea gray

The leaves of the shrub are pointed, grayish-green in color and are slightly lighter in places. Flowers of a snow-white color are collected in shields. At the crown of the shoot, inflorescences are sessile, a little further - on long deciduous branches. Flowering can begin in May, and by the end of June the spirea is already ripe. The size of the spirea is gray, a very compact shrub thanks to the falling branches with snow-white flowers. Suitable as a single or group planting. Blooming shoots look great in decorative bouquets.

Attention! Seed propagation of hybrid shrub species is impossible. Seedlings do not inherit the characteristics of the parent bush.

The most popular variety of this species is Grefsheim, a compact shrub with drooping branches that look like arches. Narrow-leaved flowers are double, white. They gather in dense inflorescences along the stems.

It is a wintering species.

Spirea argut

The second name of the species is spirea sharp-toothed. It is a hybrid species of Tunberg spirea and multiflorous. Arguta is an early spirea that blooms first. Differs in special decorativeness and powerful flowering. After flowering, the garden turns into a beautiful openwork carpet. Height approximately 1.5–2 m. Has a large crown, graceful branches and narrow leaves of a rich greenish color.

Spirea Argut

The bloom is profuse, begins in May and lasts quite a long time. Arguta flowers are snow-white, gather in inflorescences.

Compacta is a variety of Arguta spirea, which was developed in Germany in the 19th century. It is a shrub. Its height and circumference are 1.5 m. Distinctive features are long growth and instability to frost.

Spirea Wangutta

A shrub that is classified as a profusely flowering spirea on last year's branches. The height of the spirea is no more than 2 m. Flowering occurs in late May or early June. Flowers of white color are collected in brushes in the form of umbrellas. The color of the leaves is very unusual - blue-green.

Spirea Wangutta

Look great in single plantings, as a hedge, and in combination with other shrubs or trees. The original compositions are obtained from Vargutta's spirea with maples and conifers.

Attention. Spirea Wangutta is the only spirea that has chosen limestone soils.

The famous Vargutta variety is Pink Ice (Catpan). The flowers on the tops of the shoots are cream-colored. Leaves are light green in color, gradually turning into cream-colored spots.

Pink Ice grade

The variety is winter-hardy, but meanwhile, the tips of the shoots can freeze in young animals.

Spirea crenate

Distributed in the southern latitudes of Russia, Western Europe, the Caucasus and Altai. Grows in meadows and steppes, as well as in mountainous areas.

The height of the shrub is no more than 1 m, it has a loose top. Its leaves are oblong, about 4 cm long, greenish-gray in color. It is the three-veined leaves that are the identification marks of the crenate spirea.

Spirea crenate

The flowers are white-yellow, collected in shields. The branches are short, leafy.

Flowering begins in June and lasts about 3 weeks. Fruiting occurs only in July.

Spirea crenate is not afraid of frost or drought, its root system is very developed. Good lighting is the key to abundant flowering. It is found mainly in nature, it is used in a forest-park landscape. Has hybrid varieties.

Spirea oak-leaved

Distributed in Siberia, Europe and Central Asia. A small shrub, its height is about 2 m. The leaves are bright, green in color, their length is 3.5–4 cm, they have pronounced outlines of teeth. In the autumn, the foliage turns yellow-orange.

Spirea oak-leaved

The flowers are snow-white, heavy. Under their weight, the branches bend to the ground. Blooms during May. The average period is 3 weeks. Shade-tolerant plant, not afraid of cold weather and lack of moisture.

Advice.This type of spirea is successfully used in landscape design as a hedge. This species can be cut to achieve the desired shrub shape.

Spirea nippon

Dense spherical shrub. Its height is only 1.5 m. The Japanese islands are the birthplace of culture. Leaves are round, crenate and whole. Their length is 4-5 cm. White flowers are collected in inflorescences that stick around the shoot.

Spirea nippon

Flowering begins in May and lasts about 3 weeks. Nippon Spirea loves sunny areas, but can grow in a little shade. It is resistant to winter cold and undemanding to the composition of the soil.

Reproduction is carried out in three known options: dividing the bushes, growing from seeds and green cuttings.

It has many varieties, the most popular being Snowmound and Halward's Silver.

1. Snowmound - shrub 1.5–2 m, crown circumference can reach 4 m. Curved branches. Leaves are green. The flowers are collected in inflorescences and are white.

   Snowmound cultivar

2. Halward's Silver is a meter high shrub with dark green foliage. White flowers gather in bulging inflorescences.

   Halward's Silver variety

Both varieties begin to bloom in June.

Spirea average

Shrub with erect stems. Its height varies from 1 to 2 m. The top of the head looks like a ball, dense. The leaves are oblong with teeth in one part, and infrequent hairs in the other. The foliage is green.

Flowering begins in May and lasts only 14 days.

Spirea average

This species is not afraid of frost and shady areas. Propagated by the root system: it is well developed. The average spirea begins to bear fruit after 3 years of age. Can be cut, trimmed. Suitable for various types of landings.

In nature, it can be found in Siberia, Central Asia and the Far East.

Spirea Thunberg

Distributed in Korea, China and Japan. Grows on the slopes of the mountains.

Shrub, the average height of which is 1.5–2 m. Leaves are green, dense, 3.5–4 cm long, in autumn they acquire a yellowish tint. It is a decorative type.

Spirea Thunberg

The flowers are white, collected in sessile umbrellas. The beginning of flowering of the plant is May, the end is June. Ripening of Thunberg spirea fruits occurs very quickly. Fruiting begins at the age of 3.

Growing from seeds and grafting are the main methods of propagation of this species. Spirea is a sun-loving plant with abundant flowering. In winter frosts, the extreme part of the shoots can freeze.

Summer flowering spireas: characteristics of varieties

In a plant of this category, inflorescences appear on young shoots of the current year. The next year, they will re-form on young branches, and the old ones will dry out. After three years of age, the old shoots are cut off, thereby rejuvenating the spirea. Thanks to its developed root system, the plant is considered durable. But despite this, it should be pruned once every four years.

Japanese spirea

The homeland of this extraordinarily beautiful species is the Japanese and Chinese expanses.

Japanese spirea is a small bush, the height of which is 1.5 m. The leaves are oblong. The upper part of the leaf is colored green, the reverse is bluish. After blooming, reddish tones appear.

Japanese spirea

The plant blooms throughout the summer season. Pink flowers are collected in inflorescences in the form of corymbose panicles.

Used to decorate flower beds and hedges. Spring pruning of the plant is a prerequisite.

Japanese spirea has many different varieties. Here are some of them:

1. Little princess - undersized bush. Its height barely reaches half a meter. The circumference of the crown is about 120 cm. The crown is semicircular. Leaves are rich greenish color. The pink-red flowers are collected in the shields. Flowering occurs in June or July. It grows slowly. Resistant to frost.

   Little Princess variety

2. Shirobana - a small shrub, the height of which is about 50–80 cm. The leaves are small, green, up to 2 cm long. The color of the flowers is different: from snow-white to pinkish-red. It usually blooms in July and August. It is in perfect harmony with other shrubs and plants. Alpine slides and lawns are decorated with it. Suitable as a decoration for mixborders.

   Shiroban variety

3. Macrophylla - another of the varieties. Height up to 130 cm. It has long leaves. During blooming, they are purple-red, later they turn a little green, and towards autumn they acquire a yellowish tint. The flowers of the plant are lost against the general background of the striking variegation of leaves. Flowering begins in late July and lasts for one month.

   Macrophylla cultivar

4. Candlelight - a small bush with leaves of a pale creamy and yellowish tint. Height up to half a meter. In summer, the foliage of the spirea looks a little brighter and looks perfect with pink flowers.

   Candlelight variety

5. Gold flame - a shrub, the height of which is about 80 cm. It has orange foliage, later it becomes deep yellow, and closer to autumn - copper color. Often, yellow foliage forms on the shrub. The flowers are small in size, pink and red.

   Gold flame variety

6. Golden princess - a small bush. Its height is only 100 cm. Flowers are yellow and pinkish in color.

   Golden Princess variety

7. Gold mound - mini-variety 25 cm high. Differs in small size. Leaves are rich golden color. The flowers are pink. Flowering occurs in the middle of the summer season.

   Gold Mound grade

Spirea white

A very common species in our country. It has been grown since the 18th century.

A small bush. By the age of ten it grows 160 cm. It has ribbed, drooping red-brown shoots. The leaves are sharp, 6.5 cm long and 2 cm wide. White flowers gather in panicle-like pyramids.

Spirea white

Flowering occurs annually in July. Its duration is about a month. Ripening usually occurs in October.

The plant loves moist soils and moderate watering. Grown from seed or propagated by cuttings.

Spirea birch leaf

Found in forests, mountain slopes and the seaside. It can be found in Siberia, the Far East, Japan and Korea.

Photophilous shrub, but feels good in the shade. It is under protection in the reserve.

Spirea birch leaf

It owes its name to the similarity of its own foliage with birch leaves. They are ovoid, the length is about 4 cm, and the width is 1.5-2 cm. The height of the shrub is about 60 cm. The crown is spherical. The flowers are white and pinkish, gather in the shields.

Flowering lasts from June. Duration is one month.

Spirea Billard

Hybrid species of Douglas spirea and willow leaf. It is a winter-hardy plant, therefore it grows well in the northern latitudes of our country.

Spirea Billard

It is a small shrub with spreading branches. It reaches a height of 200 cm. It has wide leaves. The flowers are pink. They are collected in inflorescences in the form of pyramids. Flowering occurs during the summer season and before the onset of the first cold weather.

Maturation does not occur, since Billard's spirea is a hybrid species.

Spirea Bumald

A hybrid species of Japanese and white-flowered spirea. A wonderful plant, sometimes it is difficult to distinguish it from the Japanese spirea itself.

Its height is 75–80 cm. Shoots are ribbed, branches are erect. The leaves are sharp, about 7.5 cm long. There are species with flowers ranging from pinkish to dark carnation. Blooms throughout the summer.

Spirea Bumald

Grown from seeds and by cuttings. Moreover, the second option is optimal for Boomald's spirea.

Among the whole variety of varieties of this species, the most famous can be distinguished.

1. Anthony waterer - a bush with small leaves. The flowers are red. Flowering lasts more than 3 months. Combines with hydrangea.

   Anthony Waterer cultivar

2. Darts Red - shrub about 60 cm high. The top has the same circumference. Growth is going up. The leaves are lanceolate, changing color during the growing period. During blooming, they are pink, later dark green, and in autumn they are red. Flowering begins in July and lasts until September. Crimson flowers are collected in shields.

   Darts Red variety

3. Frebel - medium-sized shrub. Has purple leaves in autumn and spring. The flowering of the species continues for one and a half months. It is widely used for making flower arrangements in the form of bouquets.

   Frebel's variety

4. Curly - undersized one and a half meter shrub with brownish drooping shoots. The flowers are purple. Flowering begins in late July and lasts for one month. No seed ripening occurs.

   Variety Curchavaya

Spirea Douglas

The homeland of this species is North America. Spirea Douglas is an upright shrub. The leaves are lanceolate, their length varies from 3 to 10 cm.The flowers are dark pink. The flowering period is 1.5 months. Flowering occurs in July, and fruit ripens in September. Grown from seeds and by cuttings.

Spirea Douglas

Spirea willow

Light-loving species. It grows everywhere, but mainly near water bodies. It is protected in nature reserves.

The height of the shrub is 200 cm. The shoots are smooth, red-brown in color. The leaves are sharp, their length is about 10 cm. White and yellow spirea flowers gather in pyramidal panicles.

Spirea willow

The species is resistant to frost. Prefers moist soils with good mineral content. Grown from seeds and by cuttings. In Russia, it is found in Siberia and the Far East.

Growing spirea: video

Spirea in landscape design: photo

Spirea is considered one of the most luxurious shrubs that decorate the garden. It is a perennial plant that has become especially popular among gardeners. However, it is often found in parks as well. There are more than 90 types of spirea, each of which differs in external characteristics and flowering period. If you are interested in garden crafts, read here.

Content:

• Shrub varieties
• Planting and caring for spire
• Spirea in the design of the garden
• Photo gallery

Varieties of spirea

Spirea belongs to the Rosaceae family, its representatives can vary in size and shape of the shrub. Spring-flowering varieties are the first to bloom. The flowers of the plant are small in size with long threads. Creates a fluffy effect. Their shape can be presented in the form of a pyramid, a cone. Colors range from white to pink.

If you choose the right varieties of spirea, it is possible to create a blooming garden that will delight you with the splendor of flowers and aromas for a long time. In addition, the plant is a melliferous plant that attracts various insects.

Spring flowering spireas

The flowers are white and are collected in inflorescences. With the onset of May, the entire shrub is covered with a snow-white cloud, the severity of which even bends the branches. So the branches are presented in a hanging shape.

1. Spiraea oak-leaved

The shrub can be up to 2 meters in diameter. Flowering falls in the second half of May. During this period, the bush is completely covered with white inflorescences.

The plant needs pruning. The procedure is carried out in the summer after flowering. For this variety, it is advisable to select fertile soil, and the growing area should be well lit. Spiraea oak-leaved is quite resistant to frost. It is an excellent decoration for a city park.

2. Spirea Arguta

Has another name sharp-serrated. It is represented by shrubs up to 2 meters in height. Has drooping branches, narrow leaves, rich green color. Flowering occurs at the end of May, is long and abundant.

3. Gray spirea

Has another name - ash. Its branches are down, the leaves are gray-green in color.

4. Spirea nippon

A small shrub, its height is no more than a meter. The shape is in the form of a ball, which can be easily formed into a creeping one. Flowering begins in May, with white flowers. The bush is strewn with inflorescences from top to bottom. It is advisable to plant this variety on fertile soils, with a little shading. It can hardly endure winters; in case of severe frosts, the plant can freeze slightly.

5. Spirea Van Gutt

Shrub with a height of no more than 2.5 meters. Its branches are curved, the leaves are gray-green. Flowering occurs in June. The plant develops at a fast pace, prefers to grow in a well-lit area.

Spireas blooming in summer

Spireas, which bloom in the summer, have a pink color. Flowers are collected in inflorescences that form on young shoots. Flowering falls at the beginning of the summer season and continues until the onset of cold weather.

1. Japanese spirea

It has many varieties. The most common are the following types: Nana, Golden Princesses, Shirobana, Darts Red, Little Princesses. The size of the shrub is no more than 0.5 meters. An excellent option for creating alpine slides or as a planting in a garden composition.

Japanese spirea

2. White-flowered spirea

The height of the shrub does not exceed 60 centimeters. The plant is quite aromatic and unusually beautiful.
Has a variety of Macrophylla. Its height is no more than 1.3 meters. The color of the leaf plates is striking in beauty: when blooming, they are deep red in color, over time they turn into green. Thanks to this feature, the bush looks completely different at different times of the year.

3. Spirea Bumald

A medium-sized shrub, its height is no more than 1.2 meters. The leaves are ovoid, the plant is afraid of frost. Therefore, when winter comes, it will have to be covered.

Bumalda has a wide variety of varieties, for example:

• Gold Flame - has leaves of an unusual color, a combination of pink and orange color in the spring; yellow in summer; brown-orange in the fall season.
• Anthony Waterrer - flowers are pink.

4. Spirea Billard

The shrub is large, its height reaches 2.5 meters. The branches are quite long, flowering occurs from July to October. One of the most interesting varieties is Triumfans. It has spike-shaped inflorescences, bright pink color.

5. Willow spirea

Shrub up to 2.5 meters in height. The branches are straight, the leaf plates are pale green. Closer to the autumn period, they acquire a brownish-red hue. The flowering process begins in June, represented by pale pink flowers, which are collected in inflorescences. The plant can easily endure the winter.

Spirea - planting and care

There are several ways to propagate a plant:

1. Seeds

Seeds should not be taken from hybrids; as a result, seedlings will turn out to be heterogeneous. Seed material is sown in early spring; boxes with soil are used for planting. In a few months, shoots should already appear. After which they must be thinned out.

First, you need to pinch the end of the main root, so the root system will be powerfully developed. The seedlings should bloom in a few years. During this period, it is necessary to provide them with thorough care, which consists in the following: destruction of weeds, loosening of the earth, abundant and timely watering.

2. Cuttings

Cuttings are taken from the shoots of the current year's plant. They should be about 10 centimeters long. To improve the development of the plant, cuttings are treated with Kornevin's solution. To do this, you need to lower the root part into the solution just before planting. If the cuttings are planted in July, then by the onset of autumn the root system will be able to strengthen.

3. Layers

One of the most effective and easiest breeding methods.To use it, it is necessary in the spring season to bend the branches of the bush to the ground, pin them with a drag, and sprinkle them with soil. You can also tie the branches to a peg and leave them upright.

Throughout the season, it is necessary to keep the soil moist, however, it is advisable not to allow waterlogging either. With proper care of the seedlings, independent plants will already be formed closer to autumn. To accelerate development, you need to remove the first inflorescences on young bushes.

Spirea - popularly "bride"

Spirea care

Spirea is an unpretentious plant and is capable of developing even under normal conditions: fertile soil, well-lit area, no stagnant water, feeding with complex mineral fertilizers, protecting some varieties from frost. The only thing about growing a plant is proper pruning.

Spring flowering plants practically do not need pruning. An exception is pruning for sanitary purposes. This procedure consists in removing old branches, dry and broken, frozen over the winter season.

Pruning is carried out after flowering, however, it is not necessary to shorten the shoots that have faded. This will cause the side branches to develop and the shape of the shrub will be spoiled.

Summer flowering plants must be pruned with the arrival of spring. The procedure is carried out for four-year-olds. Pruning is done 30 centimeters from the ground. This process should not be neglected, otherwise the shrub will lose its decorative shape, the old branches will begin to deviate from the center and lay down to the ground.

If pruning is carried out only on the upper part, then the shoots will become thinner, the inflorescences will be small and unattractive.

Spirea when decorating a garden

Spirea is often used for garden decoration. The particular popularity of this plant is due to the fact that it has a wide variety of varieties and varieties. Each of them has an individual shape, color of leaves and flowers.

Spirea can be used both as a single plant and for creating compositions. Looks great as a green hedge. It goes well with such plants as: weigela, deytsia, dogwood, juniper, cypress, pine, thuja, spruce. The effect of such a neighborhood is simply amazing.

Spirea is a very unpretentious plant, but this does not in any way affect its attractiveness and decorativeness. That is why it is so popular and often found in landscape design. The plant is considered one of the most beloved by gardeners, who give it a special place in the garden.

Unpretentious plants for the garden Spirea gray - white fountain

Spirea photo gallery

Read about annual flowers here.