Spirea: Types, Planting and Pruning

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Spirea is one of the most rewarding garden shrubs: easy, hardy and generous with flowers. In spring the white types become “snowy waterfalls”, while in summer Japanese spireas are covered in pink flower heads above golden or green foliage. The key thing to know is that spring and summer spireas are pruned differently. Here are the types, planting and care.

Spring- and summer-flowering spireas

Spiraea is a genus of deciduous shrubs in the rose family. For care, what matters is which group your plant belongs to.

• Spring-flowering — white flowers in April–May on last year’s wood: bridal wreath (Vanhoutte spirea), 'Grefsheim', S. crenata and double-flowered S. prunifolia.
• Summer-flowering — pink, white or red flower heads in June–August on this year’s shoots: Japanese spirea ('Goldflame', 'Little Princess', 'Shirobana', 'Anthony Waterer'), S. × bumalda and S. × billardii.

Planting

• Timing: spring before bud break or autumn (September–October); container plants any time in season.
• Position: sun or light shade; in shade flowering weakens and golden leaves turn green.
• Soil: any garden soil without waterlogging; add drainage on heavy clay.
• Spacing: 50–80 cm for compact varieties, up to 1.5 m for large ones; 40–50 cm for a hedge.

How to prune spirea

Spring-flowering types are pruned right after flowering: cut flowered stems back to strong young shoots and remove old (4–5-year) stems at the base. Pruning them in spring removes the flower buds.

View full-size photoSpring spireas form 'snowy waterfalls', while Japanese spireas are covered in pink flower heads.

Summer-flowering types are cut back hard in early spring, to 20–40 cm above ground, which encourages the new shoots that will flower. Deadhead in summer for a tidy shrub and occasional repeat blooms.

Watering, feeding and propagation

Water mature shrubs only in drought and young ones regularly in their first year. Feed in spring with a balanced fertiliser and mulch with compost after pruning. Pests and diseases rarely cause problems; aphids occasionally appear. Propagate from softwood cuttings in June–July, by layering or division. Spireas make lovely low edging and flowering hedges. More ideas: a bed that blooms all season and rhododendron; the full A–Z is in types of flowers.

FAQ

When should I prune spirea?

Spring-flowering types right after flowering; summer-flowering types in early spring.

Why is my spirea not flowering?

Usually a spring type was pruned in spring, removing the flower buds, or it grows in deep shade.

Can spirea be used as a hedge?

Yes — bridal wreath, 'Grefsheim' and Japanese spirea make good low flowering hedges.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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