The best varieties of spring blooming spirea
Spirea Arguta
This shrub of Spirea Argut is also called - sharp-toothed spirea. 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 about 1.5–2 m. Has a large crown, graceful branches and narrow leaves of a rich greenish color. park area or green square.
Spirea Wangutta
Vangutta spirea is very picturesque during flowering. The plant has small leaves - they are almost invisible under the abundantly flowering bunches. During flowering, the shrub emits a strong honey scent that attracts bees. For central Russia, this ornamental shrub is the best fit, because in cold winters the plant does not freeze out.
The height of the wangutta spirea is not 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 Gorodchaty
This type of spirea is common in the southern regions 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. The flowers are yellowish. Shield inflorescences delight with their beauty for about three weeks, after which fruits appear in their place.
Spirea Dubravkolistnaya
It should be noted that spiraea Dubravkolistnaya grows especially well on rich soils and is very sensitive to watering, which should be regular. This variety is quite winter hardy, and therefore such a spirea can be grown in the northern latitudes of our country. When cultivating the plant, it is also recommended to mulch the near-trunk circle with peat, which allows it to retain moisture well and prevent the earth from becoming covered with a dry crust.
Nippon Snowmound
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.
Flowering begins in May and lasts about 3 weeks. Nippon Spirea loves sunny areas, but can grow in a little shade.
If we talk about the scope, then such a spirea can often be found in rock gardens, along park roads, forest edges and squares. It is best to grow a plant on moist soils, however, it is not particularly demanding on nutrition. It has a fairly fast growth rate, which also distinguishes it from other varieties of spirits.
Ash Grefsheim (gray)
One of the most beautiful and popular spring-flowering spirits. In height it reaches 1.5 m, in diameter it grows up to 2.0 m. The crown is spreading, round. Shoots are thin, drooping arcuate, cascading.
In May, the bush is covered with snow-white fragrant flowers. The leaves are small, elongated-lanceolate, pubescent, which makes them look grayish-green. In autumn, the foliage turns yellow-orange. The flowers are snow-white, collected in small corymbose inflorescences up to 4.0 cm in diameter. They cover the branches densely, covering the blossoming spring foliage. Flowering is very abundant and long lasting from the second decade of May to June. Sun, light partial shade. Prefers sufficiently fertile, moist and well-drained soil.
Spirea Average
This type of spirea has an erect round bush shape, above 1.5 m with a dense crown. Interesting because she loves the shadow. Shoots are brownish with a red or yellow tinge, with scaly bark, round and glabrous. The leaves of the spirea are medium, oval-oblong, with short petioles, with teeth at the top, bright green. White flowers are collected in corymbose inflorescences. The flowering period is 15-20 days in May.
This shrub is used as a hedge, as it tolerates a haircut well. It can grow on almost any type of soil, including limestone and loam.
Spirea Thunberg
From the botanical properties of the plant, one should highlight good winter hardiness, as well as smoke and gas resistance. The advantages should also include undemanding soil fertility, good pruning tolerance, excellent drought resistance. If the soil is drained, then this is a great advantage, since the spirea grows much faster.
Summer flowering species of spirea
Spirea Japanese
Spirea Japanese is the most popular variety. The height of the bush is 50cm. It begins to bloom in mid-summer. It can bloom with white, pink or red flowers.
The most popular varieties of Japanese spirea:
Lytell Princesses
Litell Princess - bush height up to 60 cm, rounded, green leaves, oval. The flowers are pink-purple. Blooms in June - July.
Golden Princess - the height of the bush is a meter, the leaves are yellowish with bright pink flowers. Blossoms in June - July.
Spirea Shiroban
Spirea Shiroban - the height of the bush is from 60-80 cm. The leaves are dark green lanceolate. The flowers are pink or white. Blooms in July - August.
Spirea Goldflame
Spirea Goldflame is a bush 60 cm high. Leaves are orange-yellow, may be yellow-green. Small pink - red flowers.
Spirea Crispus
Spirea Crispus - a bush resembles a ball, the height of which is 50 cm. The flowers are light pink with a lilac tint. Blooms in July.
Spirea Bumald is a shrub 75 cm high. Leaves are ovoid with crimson or pink flowers.
Spirea Billard
Billard's spirea - the height of the bush is 2 m. The leaves are wide, green in color with bright pink flowers. Blooms in the second half of summer. This variety of spirea is frost-resistant.
Spirea Douglas
Spirea Douglas - shrub height 1.5 m. Leaves are silvery - green, lanceolate with dark pink flowers. This spirea blooms from July to August.
White-flowered spirea is a summer species of spirea, a 1.5 m bush with white flowers. Blooms in the second half of summer.
Spirea willow
Willow spirea is a shrub with a height of 1.5 to 2.5 m. At the end of June, the shrub is covered with light pink flowers. Leaves are light green in color, in autumn they have a red tint.
Birch spirea
Spiraea birch-leaved - bush height 70 cm, has a spherical shape with small leaves of bright green color. In autumn, they change their shade to yellow, flowers are small white in color. Blooms in June - August.
Spirea average
Spirea average - a branched bush with bright green leaves, white flowers. Blooms in May.
Spirea, or in another way meadowsweet, looks great with other plants. Both with flowering shrubs and conifers. Low varieties of spirea can decorate alpine slides or rock gardens. Tall spireas look great as a hedge.
Spirea varieties of Thunberg
The main varieties of Thunberg spirea are: Ogon, Fujino Pink, Compacta, Mt. Fuji, Yat Sabusa. They are most popular due to their appearance, unpretentious care and quick adaptability to a different climate, different from their natural habitat.
Ogon
Ojon - translated from Japanese means "gold". It is a bush with a highly developed root system, up to 1.5 m high, up to 2 m wide and a semicircular crown. The branches are rather thin, of medium thickening, erect, slightly drooping, each year they give an increase of up to 20 cm.The bark on the shoots is smooth, brown-black. The leaves are very narrow, up to 4 cm long and about 0.5 cm wide, with a pointed end, covered with a slight roughness. In spring they are painted in bright green color, in summer they darken a little, in autumn they first acquire a golden-orange color, and before falling off they become crimson.
The value of the plant is the change in the color of the foliage throughout the season. Also, the shrub forms a large number of young shoots, as a result of which it requires the formation of a crown.
This type of spirea begins to bloom early relative to other relatives. The flowering period lasts only a month - from early April to early May. The flowers are small, up to 0.8 cm in diameter, snow-white, have a delicate aroma, are collected in umbellate inflorescences, densely cover the terminal branches.
The life span of Ojon spirea can reach up to 30 years. The culture tolerates drought well, does not suffer from excessive gas pollution in urban areas. Suitable for the formation of hedges, used in the creation of various compositions, for arranging flower bouquets.
Did you know? The analgesic and antipyretic agent "glycoside salicin" was isolated from spirea in 1839. Later, a medicine appeared - acetylsalicylic acid or aspirin ("a" for "acetyl", "spirin" for "spirea").
Fujino pink
Fujino Pink is a deciduous shrub up to 1.2 m high, about 1.5 m wide. Forms a spreading, dense crown in the shape of a ball. It has thin drooping shoots, on which small lanceolate leaves 4 cm long and 0.5 cm wide grow. In summer, the foliage is painted bright green, in autumn it changes to red. Flowers have a light pink color, similar to apple, collected in numerous inflorescences. The flowering period is from May to June and lasts about 3 weeks. Prefers sunny locations. Undemanding to the composition of the soil. Withstands frosts down to -29 ° С.
Fujino Pink draws the attention of gardeners with its beautiful, spreading crown and foliage that changes color throughout the season from light pink to fiery red. Widely used in landscaping
Compacta
Compacta is another representative of the Thunberg spirea, characterized by a compact, graceful, dense, rounded crown. The bush reaches a height of 0.6 to 2 m and a width of 0.6 to 1 m. The leaves are narrow, serrated, up to 4 cm long, in spring they are painted in a lemon-green color, which acquires an orange hue by autumn.
Thin twigs densely covered with white flowers, collected in umbellate inflorescences. Flowering occurs in the month of May and lasts about 3 weeks.
The variety is distinguished by long and slow growth, poor frost tolerance, therefore, it needs to cover the root system for the winter. Due to its beautiful crown shape, it is highly regarded among professionals and gardeners.
Mt. Fuji
Mt. Fuji is a plant that grows up to 1.2 m in height and about 1 m in width. It differs from other varieties in that it has decorative, variegated foliage, ranging from milky to light green. The leaves are thin, wavy, up to 4 cm long and 0.5 cm wide. The flowers have 5 snow-white round petals, collected in small inflorescences. Abundant flowering from May to June. Used to create decorative compositions in flower beds.
Yat sabusa
Yat Sabusa is a variety of Thunberg's spirea, which has the characteristic features of its species. Namely: the height of the bush is up to 1.2 m, the width is about 1.5 m. The crown is dense, round. Shoots are thin, curved. The leaves are lanceolate, bright green, 4 cm long, 0.5 m wide. A distinctive feature of Yat Sabusa are small double flowers with many petals, with a light green center, completely covering the branches, collected in few inflorescences. Like other relatives, the flowering period falls in May and lasts about 3 weeks.
Due to its beautiful flowering, it is widely used as a hedge, planted in flower beds in combination with other plants
What kind of care you need to provide
After planting the seedling in the open ground, a multi-stage process of caring for the plant begins. One of the main activities is watering, which is carried out 2-3 times per season. If the summer is dry and hot, then you can increase the irrigation of the bush. For irrigation, use ordinary clean water.
Young seedlings need protection for the winter. To do this, you need to cover the ground near the trunk with foliage and geotextiles, and the thin trunk is tied to a peg installed next to it.
In the summer, the plant is fed. Mullein diluted in 10 liters of water and 10 g of superphosphate is sufficient for this purpose. It is possible to use Kemira Universal and other components in the second year of the growth of the bush.
With proper care, young bushes bloom very quickly.
Pruning is one of the main steps in plant care, allowing you to give the bush the desired shape. In spring-flowering varieties, after flowering, dry shoots and old branches are removed with sharp garden shears.
The bushes are pruned regularly, but carefully.
Summer-flowering bushes are pruned from the fourth year after planting. Make a radical haircut, removing the old lower and upper shoots. If you eliminate only the tops, then the new shoots will be thin and with small inflorescences.
It is important to remember that in the early years it is impossible to cut the bushes too much. Only dry, damaged branches are removed
Solving possible problems when growing Japanese spirea
Most varieties of Japanese spirea are unpretentious and do not require special care.
If there are problems with growing, then you should pay attention to the conditions in which the bush grows
Spirea in the process of growth and flowering is subject to the following problems:
- defeat by aphids, rosaceous miner, leafworm is possible from mid to late summer. In such cases, an inspection is carried out, the affected areas are identified and the plant is sprayed with solutions such as pyrimor - 0.1%, kronephos - 0.3%, etafos - 0.2%, hostaquik - 0.1%;
- to combat spider mites, celtan, fosalon, metaphos, phosphamide, acrex are used. It is best to start processing before three ticks appear;
- if branches and leaves begin to dry at the height of the season, then you need to make sure that there is sufficient watering and the quality of the soil. If necessary, add top dressing, water the plant.
These problems are the main ones, and it is possible to prevent the impact of pests with the help of regular irrigation of the bushes.
Plant propagation methods
If reproduction of Japanese spirea bushes is required, then different methods are used for this
In each case, it is important to use high-quality basic planting material, as well as prepare the soil on the site and in pots
Reproduction is carried out by the following methods:
- planting with seeds is not used for varieties such as Billard, Van Gutta, Bumalda. Other species can be propagated by seeds, and for this they are placed in early spring in containers with high-quality and loose soil. The hardened sprouts are planted in the soil on the site, but after pinching the main root. Young plants are thoroughly watered, and when it gets cold they are covered with a transparent plastic container;
Young shoots are covered from the cold
Cuttings are kept in water for several days.
Part of the branch is sprinkled with earth, and part is attached to a peg
All of these methods are simple to perform, but it is important to determine the planting site of the resulting bushes. When propagating by layering, the plants will be located next to each other, which should be taken into account if the landscape design of the site is important
Video: summer pruning of Japanese spirea bushes
The choice of variety, planting, reproduction and caring for Japanese spirea do not differ from the cultivation of many other ornamental and fruiting shrubs. Moreover, all stages of plant care are required, because it is then that the bushes will decorate the garden.
Description
Spirea (from the Greek "spiral") is represented by a perennial shrub of the deciduous type of the rose family.It grows on the slopes of the Alps, at the foot of the Himalayas, as well as in the forest and forest-steppe zones of the temperate zone. Thanks to the cascading curving branches and abundant flowering, the plant is actively used for landscaping public spaces. Many inexperienced summer residents often confuse it with meadowsweet - a herb that looks like some varieties of spirea. According to the timing and duration of flowering, three types of spirits are distinguished: spring flowering, summer flowering and late flowering.
Below are considered the general morphological characteristics of spirea, in one way or another, inherent in all plant species.
- An adult spirea often reaches a height of 2.5 m and is distinguished by a variety of forms. In addition to weeping, pyramidal, erect, hemispherical and cascading bushes, there are creeping species.
- The plant impresses with a variety of leaf shapes and colors, many of which change their color towards the end of the growing season. Cultivars with yellow, orange, purple and red leaves, which stand out noticeably against the background of other garden vegetation, are especially appreciated.
- Spirea belongs to tree-like shrubs and is covered with longitudinally exfoliating bark. Young branches have a light green, yellowish, reddish or brown tint, can be bare or pubescent.
- The root system of the spirea is of the fibrous type and has a superficial location.
- The buds of most plants are very small, but in some species they can reach 1 cm in length. In their structure, they can be double or single, and in shape - round, ovoid and pointed. Some of them have slight pubescence, and some are completely naked. Both those and others have a scaly structure and consist of 2-8 scales.
- Spirea leaves come in different shapes - from round to narrow-lanceolate. All of them have a petiole, consist of 3-5 lobes, do not have stipules and are arranged alternately.
- Inflorescences of early flowering varieties are represented by sessile (semi-sedentary) umbrellas or corymbose racemes, framed by rosettes of leaves at their bases. The inflorescences of summer-flowering spirae are simple and complex scutes located at the ends of the short branches of the current year. In late flowering plants, inflorescences are represented by narrow-cylindrical, pyramidal or elliptical panicles located at the tips of long branches of the current season.
- Spirea flowers are often bisexual, although species with dioecious flowers are also found. In spring-flowering plants, they are almost always white, in summer-flowering plants, they are white, lilac, pink and red, and in late-flowering plants they have a beautiful purple color. In their shape, the flowers are cupped and bell-shaped, have 5 sepals and up to 60 stamens.
- The fruits of the spirea are represented by multi-seeded leaflets, opening along the inner, and a little later, along the outer seam. The seeds begin to spill out 2 months after flowering, have a flat lanceolate shape, are brown and reach a length of 1.5-2 mm.
- The flowering of spring-flowering species is very friendly, but short, summer ones bloom just as massively and bloom a little longer, and late-flowering bushes bloom gradually, which is why they do not look as impressive as summer and spring species. The plant begins to bloom only 3-4 years after planting, and the first flowering in most varieties is very poor, with a large number of unblown buds.
Spirea shrub: description of flowers, leaves and fruits (with photo)
Spirea (Spiraea) or meadowsweet belongs to the Rosaceae family, its homeland is the regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
It is a small to medium sized deciduous shrub. The genus includes about 100 species, which are characterized by the presence of whole or lobed leaves, small flowers with five petals and stamens protruding far forward. The flowers are mostly bisexual, white, light or dark pink, red, collected in umbellate inflorescences or panicles.When describing spirea, it should be noted that these shrubs differ in flowering time. Early species bloom in May - June with white flowers, which are located in small shields along last year's shoots. Summer, i.e. later, species bloom with white and pink shields of larger size, which sit at the ends of short last year's shoots. Late spirea shrubs bloom in late summer with pink flowers, collected in conical or cylindrical panicles at the ends of the long shoots of this year. Spring and summer spireas bloom profusely and quickly, while late species bloom not so amicably, but much longer. In this case, the fresh flowers of the spirea will coexist with the already wilted ones.
As you can see in the photo, the leaves of the spirae are alternate, petiolate, simple, mostly toothed, less often lobed, without stipules:
By autumn, they acquire a golden yellow color and become a decoration of the site.
Spirea fruits are multi-seeded leaflets.
Winter hardiness varies greatly in different varieties, but in most cases meadowsweet withstands the climate of the Middle zone. All types of spirits differ in their decorative appearance throughout the season. Erect species can be used in hedges, dwarf and creeping varieties - planted in rock gardens.
Spirea or meadowsweet are shrubs up to two meters high, with a different, depending on the type, crown shape: weeping, hemispherical, creeping, pyramidal, with a different shape and color of leaves, which by autumn become orange or purple-red instead of green. All plant species are not demanding on soil composition, are relatively frost-resistant, love lighting and tolerate urban conditions well. They grow quite quickly, and, usually, in the third year they begin to bloom. The plant is not against a haircut, after which it quickly restores its crown. Reproduction of species occurs mainly vegetatively and interchangeably.
Many species of spirea are photophilous and relatively frost-resistant, in some species only the tips of the shoots can freeze, but they are quickly replaced by new ones.
Planting in open soil
Growing a beautifully blooming and healthy bush is not difficult at all. The main thing is to follow simple rules and follow useful recommendations. You should carefully consider the choice of seedlings, make sure that the root system looks healthy and strong.
Japanese spirea seedling, ready for planting in open ground
It is important to control the distance between the bushes so that they feel comfortable and do not take food away from each other. On average, it is enough to maintain a distance of 0.7 m - 1 m between individuals
For cultivation of hedges, a gap of 0.3 m is allowed.
Selection and preparation of shoots
It is recommended to choose seedlings for one plot from one seller. Determined in advance with the type of plant. The choice depends on the place and purpose in the composition of the garden.
For example, for a green fence, it is better to plant bushes of the same variety in large quantities. For a tapeworm, or a detached island, a specimen with a lush curly crown, with a maximum flowering period, is selected. For a decorative alpine slide, stunted individuals are used.
Spirea seedlings
When buying, they pay attention to the condition of the rhizome: healthy specimens have 3 strong rods, a lush lobe and a fresh clay talker. If you plan to plant in the spring, make sure that the buds have not yet begun to gain strength.
The leaves should completely fall from the autumn shoots.
By the way, planting of plants that grew in a container is possible throughout the growing season.
Too overgrown roots are shortened. If there is damage, the parts are cut off. If the tuber seems dry, it is soaked for several hours in water.
Soil preparation
The well-being of a culture depends on a successful landing site. The site must have a constant flow of sunlight. In the shade, the spirea produces few inflorescences.
Broken brick as drainage
But there are no special requirements for the soil, the main thing is that it is fertile. A sod composition with non-acidic or neutral soil oxide is suitable for it. Sand or peat is poured into clay soil, and vice versa, sand is mixed with clay.
It is allowed to lightly fertilize each hole with a long-term exposure agent. Pits are dug 2-3 days in advance, with a size slightly larger than the diameter of the root ball. Optimum depth: 70 - 80 cm.
Broken brick works well for drainage. It is allowed to use pebbles or gravel.
Features of planting in spring and autumn
Gardeners consider September to be a good time for early flowering plants, when most varieties have already faded, and frosts have not yet come. They calculate the period so that before the onset of cold weather the bushes take root and take root. Leaf fall should completely stop.
The best time for planting is autumn.
Late-flowering individuals are planted in the spring, when the buds have not yet begun to swell. The dormant state is of great importance for the correct life of the plant. Preferred weather for landing is cloudy, not hot.
Landing algorithm
The landing algorithm is simple enough
There is a simple procedure that applies to most shrubs:
1
Drainage is poured into a pit with a volume one third larger than the size of the plant's root system
This is important, since pink flowers do not tolerate stagnant moisture.
2
The bush is installed vertically.
3
Spread the roots neatly and evenly.
4
Pour the soil to the root end. It should match the soil level.
5
Slightly compact the ground.
6
Water the freshly planted spirea with 2 buckets of water. If the soil has settled after watering, it can be filled up.
7
A protective layer of peat with a thickness of at least 5 cm is laid on the soil surface.
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