Introduction to Spiraea and How to Grow It: Get to Know the Flower That Never Stops Striving

Spiraea, also called "leech tip," is a typical bisexual flower, with white as its main flower color, and its blooming period is relatively long, so it is often used for landscape cultivation and planting. Let's take a look at what you need to know about Spiraea below.

I. Introduction to Spiraea

Spiraea is a plant variety under the genus Spiraea in the Rosaceae family. In summer it blooms bright pink flowers, is cultivated for ornamental use, and is also a nectar-source plant.

II. Morphological Characteristics of Spiraea

Erect shrub, 1-2 m tall; branches dense, branchlets slightly angular, yellowish brown, young twigs with short pubescence, shedding when old; winter buds ovoid or oblong-ovoid, apex acute, with several brown exposed scales, sparsely covered with fine short pubescence. Leaf blades oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate, 4-8 cm long, 1-2.5 cm wide, apex acute or acuminate, base cuneate, margin densely sharp-serrate, sometimes doubly serrate, glabrous on both surfaces; petiole 1-4 mm long, glabrous. Inflorescence an oblong or pyramidal panicle, 6-13 cm long, 3-5 cm in diameter, covered with fine short pubescence, flowers dense; pedicels 4-7 mm long; bracts lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, entire or with a few teeth, slightly covered with fine short pubescence; flowers 5-7 mm in diameter; hypanthium campanulate; sepals triangular, inner surface slightly pubescent; petals ovate, apex usually rounded-obtuse, 2-3 mm long, 2-2.5 mm wide, pink; stamens 50, about 2 times longer than the petals; disc annular, lobes finely rounded-serrate; ovary sparsely pubescent, style shorter than the stamens. Follicles erect, glabrous or with short pubescence along the ventral suture, style terminal, spreading obliquely, often with reflexed sepals. Blooming period June-August, fruiting period August-September. Plant height 30-50 cm, plant form full and nearly semicircular, clumping. Leaves long-ovate or obovate, alternate. New leaves golden yellow, old leaves turning yellow-green, glossy. It is a deciduous erect shrub, up to 2 m tall, branches dense, branchlets angular and short-haired, leaves simple and alternate, blades oblong-lanceolate, margin finely and densely sharp-serrate, glabrous on both surfaces, petiole short, glabrous, oblong panicles borne at the top of current-year leafy long branches, up to 6-13 cm long, pubescent, flowers dense, bisexual, umbel terminal, flowers pink, flowers short-stalked, petals pink, 50 stamens extending beyond the petals, flowers have a disc, bracts, calyx and sepals, all pubescent, follicles erect, about 5 mm tall, hairy along the ventral suture and with reflexed sepals, blooming period June-September, fruit ripening August-October.

II. Propagation Methods of Spiraea

1. Sowing, division, and cuttings are all possible.

Spiraea can be propagated by seed or by cuttings. Once the seeds are mature, they can be collected and sown immediately; the germination rate is relatively high, and under normal conditions seedlings can be obtained the following year. If a large number of seedlings is needed, cutting propagation is best. Spiraea chinensis, like other plants in the Asteraceae family, has a relatively high cutting survival rate and can be propagated except in winter, but cutting with 2 leaves from May to September gives the best results. For the cutting medium, perlite, vermiculite, or river sand with good water retention can be used. Select vigorous, plump current-year branches as cuttings, soak them in ABT rooting powder at 50 ppm, water thoroughly after inserting, and mist the leaves at regular intervals. Cuttings taken from May to September generally root in about 15 days, with a survival rate above 80%.

2. Management During the Growing Period

Spiraea is fertilized twice a year: once with winter fertilizer, applying organic fertilizer in winter or early spring; the other time after the flowers fall, with a supplemental fertilizer. Generally, for fertilizing Spiraea trees, the hole method can be used, that is, at the edge of the tree crown's direct projection line, dig a ring-shaped trench about 10 cm deep and apply the fertilizer into it. This method is both simple and beneficial for root absorption; as the tree grows, the diameter and depth of the fertilizing ring trench should also increase accordingly. Good drainage and aeration are required, with timely hoeing. Water reasonably according to the tree's needs, and spray with Xinguo lipid film to retain fertilizer and preserve soil moisture.

3. Pruning and Care

Pruning mainly involves cutting off withered branches, leggy branches, overlapping branches, and diseased or pest-infested branches. Spiraea is very cold-resistant and drought-resistant; if you prune the branches and leaves, Spiraea will then strive to grow new branches and leaves. After pruning, promptly apply callus antiseptic film to the cut branches so the wounds heal quickly and to prevent pathogens from invading after rain, which would cause rot. During the flower bud differentiation stage, spray Chuhuawang No. 3, which can convert the plant's vegetative growth into reproductive growth, inhibit excessive growth of the main shoot, promote flower bud differentiation, and produce more flowers. For Spiraea to overwinter safely, spray Hushu Jiangjun to protect the tree body against freezing, drive away overwintering viruses, and keep pests from settling on the tree body to reproduce, urging the fruit tree to enter dormancy early and recover its vitality.

The above is what you need to know about Spiraea; I hope it can help you.

Urging the fruit tree to enter dormancy early and recover its vitality.

The above is what you need to know about Spiraea; I hope it can help you.