What is another name for spirea?
Spiraea /spaɪˈriːə/, sometimes spelled spirea in common names, and commonly known as meadowsweets or steeplebushes, is a genus of about 80 to 100 species of shrubs in the family Rosaceae. Spirea performs best in full sun, producing more blooms, vibrant color and brighter fall foliage. Plants can take light shade, with spring bloomers more shade tolerant than summer bloomers.Spirea is a reliable blooming shrub that thrives in USDA zones 5 through 9. Spirea blooms consistently and profusely on new wood after some time the plant begins to look a bit bedraggled with few blooms.Spiraea /spaɪˈriːə/, sometimes spelled spirea in common names, and commonly known as meadowsweets or steeplebushes, is a genus of about 80 to 100 species of shrubs in the family Rosaceae. They are native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere, with the greatest diversity in eastern Asia.Spirea shrubs thrive in well-drained soil in a full-sun location. Spirea varieties that grow larger are well suited as a hedge for a privacy screen or mass plantings on a sloping part of your yard for erosion control.While there is a multitude of spirea types, the most common sold commercially are: Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica): known for their wide flower and foliage color range, and their low-growing, mounding form.
Is spirea a shrub?
Spirea is perennial in the sense that it comes back each year. But it is more correctly known as a shrub because its woody branches persist above ground all year round, and in spring, the new growth emerges not from the ground but on those branches. If you are looking for an instant garden, plant these 3 fast growing shrubs! Spirea: Spireas are a common sight in landscapes- but there are so many cultivars and kinds that you might not recognize one when you see it.While many kinds of spirea are much smaller than that, all of them divide easily to create new plants that you can plant in your yard or give to friends and family.Spirea pairs beautifully with companions like lavender, salvia, coreopsis, astilbe, catmint, ornamental grasses, and daisies for vibrant and dynamic landscapes. Utilize them in mixed borders, cottage gardens, or as focal points for a colorful and low-maintenance garden design.
Where does spirea grow best?
Spirea shrubs thrive in well-drained soil in a full-sun location. Spirea varieties that grow larger are well suited as a hedge for a privacy screen or mass plantings on a sloping part of your yard for erosion control. Spirea Bush Benefits Their reliability, easy care, and season-long color really can’t be beat. Other than occasional shaping, they really are a plant-it-and-forget-it type of shrub. They are fast-growing, drought tolerant once established, and are also resistant to browsing by deer and rabbits!A little-known fact is that you can dig and divide most spireas. An old clump with a dead or dying center and lots of healthy growth around the edges can be lifted and split with a saw or sharp pruning shears, just like a perennial. It’s an inexpensive way to expand your garden beds and borders.Spireas bloom on old wood. Prune in summer after flowering. Thin the center of the shrub to promote air flow. Spirea can be pruned back hard, removing half or two-thirds of the plant if it has become leggy, woody, and out of control.Spirea is an enthusiastic grower. Liberal pruning is always beneficial. Removal of dead branches keeps the plant looking tidy and attractive. You can even prune it down to ground level and it will bounce back.
How often should spirea be cut back?
Plan on pruning a spirea bush at least twice a year. Regular, scheduled trimming promotes good health and new growth. Removal of dead or excess branches allows sunlight better penetration to the interior and lower branches. Pruning also improves airflow, which is vital to the wellbeing of the spirea. More drastically cutting back spirea should occur in the fall or in late winter to early spring. Remove any dead branches and use this trimming to shape the shrub. Cutting it way back will stimulate new growth in tighter clusters so that you can get a more rounded, compact shrub shape.More drastically cutting back spirea should occur in the fall or in late winter to early spring. Remove any dead branches and use this trimming to shape the shrub. Cutting it way back will stimulate new growth in tighter clusters so that you can get a more rounded, compact shrub shape.Moving a spirea shrub should be done as quickly as possible so the plant doesn’t dry out. It may help to wrap the root ball in burlap to keep it moist and to stop the soil from falling away. Plant it in a hole prepared just like for container transplanting.Splitting the plant will prevent this type of overgrowth, keeping the spirea attractive and manageable. It also creates a small section of the original plant that can be used to start a new bush. Depending on the size of the parent plant, you may be able to remove more than one section at a time.Taking softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings is the most reliable method of propagating all types of spirea. There is no need to use a prepared rooting hormone to ensure good root growth. It is more important to take cuttings from non-flowering stems and to keep the cuttings well watered without waterlogging the soil.
What is the lifespan of a spirea?
Spiraea should reach their ultimate height after 10 years, but a healthy plant could live to more than 20 years, depending on variety and growing conditions. What is the lifespan of a spiraea? Spiraea should reach their ultimate height after 10 years, but a healthy plant could live to more than 20 years, depending on variety and growing conditions.It grows to a height of 3 feet and a spread of 4 feet at maturity, with a fast growth rate and an expected lifespan of 20 years. It should only be grown in full sunlight, with average to moist soil and a neutral pH.Spiraea should reach their ultimate height after 10 years, but a healthy plant could live to more than 20 years, depending on variety and growing conditions.
Can I cut my spirea to the ground?
If your spirea shrub looks leggy or hasn’t had a good flowering season, cutting it back to the ground in late winter or early spring before new growth appears can rejuvenate it. In the fall or winter, a more aggressive prune can be done to remove dead branches and foliage, as well as spent blooms. An aged Spirea that has become unsightly and overgrown can be cut back 2 to 3 feet from the soil line. This hardy plant will bounce back even better than before.The two main types of Spirea are those that bloom on last year’s wood (blooming only once in spring) so pruning after the flowers are done. The other type is those that bloom on new wood and most of these will rebloom and best if deadheaded.In the fall or winter, a more aggressive prune can be done to remove dead branches and foliage, as well as spent blooms. An aged Spirea that has become unsightly and overgrown can be cut back 2 to 3 feet from the soil line.Stems need to be cut back at least once each growing season prior to seed production as close to the ground as possible. Another method of spirea control is the use of organic foliar herbicides. Use these carefully where the risk to other plants is minimal and when there are large, dense stands of spirea.