Is Spiraea a deciduous shrub? Common varieties and their characteristics explained
For attractive foliage and vivid flowers, many gardeners rely on various spiraea upright shrubs, not deciduous shrubs. Different species of spiraea can serve as colorful garden decorations, mass plantings and container plants. If you go to a plant shop, you may be surprised at how many kinds of spiraea are available commercially. Continue reading to learn about different spiraea plant varieties and special spiraea cultivars.
About Spiraea Plant Varieties Spiraea plant varieties belong to the rose family and, like roses, are among the most popular garden plants. They are loved by busy gardeners because they do not need careful site selection or special care. Planting different kinds of spiraea will surprise you every year with colorful flowers. Using a mixture of spiraea varieties, you can have flowers throughout the season. Spiraea varieties are all part of the genus Spiraea, a word that in Greek means “twisted.” But do not worry, the shrubs are not twisted.
Instead, their fruit appears to be twisted. In USDA plant hardiness zones 3 to 8, spiraea species grow throughout the United States. If you count the different kinds of spiraea, you will find at least 80 different species. Some are tall, making perfect ornamental specimens. Others work well as dense ground cover. Popular Spiraea Varieties Many types of spiraea work well in your garden and look lovely with neighbors such as larkspur, lavender, forsythia and peony plants. They can grow from April to November, with flower shades ranging from white to red and purple. Perhaps the most popular spiraea types are “Triumphans” (Spiraea billardii), a magnificent summer-blooming shrub with deep pink flowers, and bridal wreath spiraea (Spiraea prunifolia).
Bridal wreath grows to 5-6 feet (1.5-2 m) tall and can make a great hedge with romantic white flowers. If you like the wide arching branches of Bridal Wreath, check out 'Grefshiem'. It is one of the newer spiraea plant varieties and also works well as a standalone hedge. With so many types of spiraea, you should try more than one in your garden. If you want early flowers, consider 'Astilbe.' It grows to 10 feet (3 m) and offers pale pink flowers. It also works well for hedges. For a spring-blooming shrub, look at dense-flowered spiraea (Spiraea densiflora). It is very healthy, with vivid pink flowers and attractive, long-lasting foliage.
