Spirea: what a plant looks like and how to grow it

Spirea: what a plant looks like and how to grow itFlowering shrubs of spirea are like decorative white fountains – their curved branches, strewn with small snow-white flowers, can decorate any area. True, white inflorescences are only in spirea species blooming in spring, and summer-flowering forms have clusters of pink shades. Both are excellent honey plants, which means they attract bees to the garden, which is useful for pollination of other plants.

Types of spirea shrubs with photos and descriptions

The ornamental spirea shrub belongs to the Rosaceae family. There are more than 80 species of deciduous shrubs that are common in temperate regions of Europe, Eastern

Asia and America. In most species, branches are gracefully curved; the ancient Greeks made garlands and wreaths from them to decorate houses and temples. Apparently, the name of the plant comes from the Greek word “hoop (wreath)”.

To get started, read the general description and photo of spirea – unpretentious, fast-growing shrubs. Its height reaches up to 2 m, the shape and color of flowers and leaves are different. The graceful green leaves of the spirea turn golden yellow, purplish red or bright orange in autumn. Spirea is very beautiful during flowering, which lasts long enough.

See how the spirea plant looks like – numerous small flowers of different colors (from pure white to deep crimson) are connected in lush corymbose, paniculate, spike-shaped or pyramidal inflorescences:

Spirea: what a plant looks like and how to grow itSpirea: what a plant looks like and how to grow it

In some species, the inflorescences cover the entire shoot, in others, they are located only in the upper part, in others, at the ends of the shoots.

By the time of flowering, spireas are divided into two groups: spring and summer flowering. Plants of the first group have white flowers that form on the shoots of the last year. In summer flowering, flower buds are laid on the shoots of the current year, and the flowers are pink, red or crimson.

Mainly spring-flowering species are grown in our gardens. Below you can find a photo and description of the spirea of ​​the most popular forms.

Spirea: what a plant looks like and how to grow itSpirea: what a plant looks like and how to grow it

Spirea Wangutta. A low bush with arched branches. The leaves are dark green, gray-gray underneath, turn yellow and purple in autumn. Snow-white flowers are collected in dense hemispherical inflorescences that completely cover the entire shoot. Flowering lasts from mid-May for three weeks. The fruit is a multi-seeded leaflet.

Spirea: what a plant looks like and how to grow itSpirea: what a plant looks like and how to grow it

Spiraea is oak-leaved. Shrub up to 2 m high with long curved branches and a dense, broadly rounded crown. Leaves are oblong-ovoid, bright green, in autumn they are painted in yellow tones. Numerous white flowers are collected in scutes.

As you can see in the photo, this type of spirea has stamens twice as long as the petals, so the inflorescences seem fluffy:

Spirea: what a plant looks like and how to grow itSpirea: what a plant looks like and how to grow it

Blooms in early May, flowering lasts 2-3 weeks.

Spirea: what a plant looks like and how to grow itSpirea: what a plant looks like and how to grow it

Spirea is sharp-serrated (arguta). The most picturesque of the spring-flowering spirits. The crown is wide, spreading. Shoots are curved arcuate. The leaves are rather small, lanceolate, tapering towards the apex, serrated, bright green. White flowers form umbellate inflorescences, so densely covering the shoots along the entire length that no leaves are visible. The people call this spirea “the bride”. Blooms in May.

Planting, care and pruning of spirea shrubs

Spirea: what a plant looks like and how to grow itBefore growing spirea, you need to take care of a well-lit area. All spireas are hardy, undemanding to soils, some forms can grow in some shade. After planting the spirea, the shrubs need minimal care – they are completely unpretentious and frost-resistant. The bushes grow quickly, they tolerate cutting, pruning, transplanting well.

When caring for a spirea, pruning is carried out taking into account which group the plant belongs to: those blooming in spring are pruned immediately after flowering, and those blooming in the second half of summer – in early spring. In spring-flowering species, old shoots (7 years or more) and frozen tops are removed. Summer flowering ones require stronger pruning – starting from the fourth year, the entire aerial part of the bush is cut annually at a level of 30 cm from the soil surface.

Spirea is propagated mainly by dividing the bush, cuttings and root suckers.

No garden is complete without this charming shrub. It is an excellent honey plant. Spirea is planted in a conspicuous place, in groups, along the paths. It can also be used in single plantings – then the bush will be wide and branched. Ideal for hedges. Low-growing spireas look good in borders and rockeries. Some species are even used to consolidate the soil on slopes and slopes.

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Anna Evans

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