Spiraea is presented in the form of a deciduous shrub, the height of which rarely exceeds 2 m. The range is represented by creeping, cascading, hemispherical, erect, pyramidal and weeping forms. Different types Spiraea differ from each other in both the shape of the plant and the color of the leaves and flowers. Some specimens change color to yellow, purple or orange depending on the time of year. About 90 varieties of this crop are common in the semi-desert and steppe zones; most often, basic compliance with agrotechnical requirements allows you to grow a strong plant and ensure flowering from spring to autumn.

Numerous small flowers are formed into spike-shaped, paniculate, pyramidal or corymbose inflorescences. Single flowers are also no exception. The decorative value of this shrub is determined by the following factors: a variety of colors (from crimson to snow-white), flowering times, as well as the location of the inflorescences on the shoots.

The classification distinguishes 2 groups of spirea - summer-flowering and spring-flowering. The name of these groups is due to the flowering period of the specimens. Among general characteristics It is worth highlighting gas resistance, preference for well-lit areas, frost resistance, and undemandingness. Among possible ways reproduction - by shoots, seeds, dividing the bush, layering and cuttings.

Group I – spring-flowering species and varieties

Spring flowering plants are often white in color. Plants that bloom in spring should be pruned immediately after flowering. It will be simultaneous, but not long-lasting.

Spiraea gray

This species is a two-meter tall, highly branched bush, the shoots of which are ribbed and felt-like. The leaves are darker above than below and pointed at both ends. Loose brushes of snow-white flowers are densely located along the entire length of the shoot. The top is distinguished by sessile inflorescences; below they are located on elongating leafy branches. The flowering period is May, fruiting is in June. Propagation by seeds is not available for this species due to its hybridity. The decorative effect of the bush is due to the presence of drooping branches and compactness; snow-white inflorescences are presented in large quantities. Planting is possible in groups or as a single specimen. Shoots are often used to form bouquet arrangements. The variety "Grefsheim" is the most interesting representative of this winter-hardy species.

Arguta

The shrub reaches 2 m in height and has a spreading crown. The leaves are dark green, lanceolate, distinctly jagged, reaching 4 cm in length. Snow-white flowers with a diameter of 0.8 cm are collected in numerous umbrella-shaped inflorescences located along the entire length of the shoot. This species is characterized by not very active growth with an annual growth of 20 cm. Among the spring-flowering species, this spirea is the most spectacular due to its thin branches that gracefully bend under the abundantly flowering inflorescences. In urban conditions, he demonstrates resilience. Great for creating compositions, single plantings or planting as a hedge. Annual flowering depends on the abundance of light; this species tolerates slightly dry soil well. Propagation by seeds is not available due to hybridity.

Wangutta

Among the species of this group, Vangutta is the largest. The diameter and height exceed 2 meters. The crown shape is cascading, formed due to downward, spreading branches. The serrated, 5-lobed leaves are green above and glaucous below. Snow-white flowers form into numerous hemispherical inflorescences covering the entire length of the shoot. After two weeks of flowering in the spring, you may find re-blooming in August, but it will not be as abundant. The foliage also has decorative appeal. The fruiting period begins in October. After planting, flowering begins at 3 years.

The species in question is distinguished by active flowering, unpretentiousness and shade tolerance. The soil should be well drained and the area should be well lit. Frost resistance is high, but the ends of the shoots can freeze over the winter and are cut off in the spring. Vangutta is used to create large flower beds, low hedges, group or single plantings. In the landscape, this species goes well with fir, spruce, and pine trees.

Gorodchataya

Crenate spirea

This type of spirea is common in the north of Central Asia, the Caucasus, Altai, and the southeast Western Europe and Russia in the zone of shrub and meadow steppes, as well as on rocky mountain slopes among thickets of bushes. It belongs to the plants protected by the reserve. The shrub barely reaches a meter in height, has gray-green oblong leaves collected in a loose crown. The identifying feature of this species is the three veins at the bottom of the leaf and its crenate edge. The white color has a yellowish tint, corymbose inflorescences are formed on short branches with leaves. Flowering lasts about 20 days, after which the fruiting period begins in July. Among the advantages are abundant root growth, frost and drought resistance, growth in partial shade is possible, but good lighting has a better effect on the development of shrubs. The soil may not be moist enough. This variety is not very actively used in gardening, mainly in landscaping forests, forest edges, and parks.

oak leaf

The most common area for the growth of oak-leaved spirea is the Far East and Eastern Europe These are mountain forests and rocky slopes. The beautiful rounded shape of the two-meter bush has a dense crown with branches that bend to the ground under the weight of flowers. The length of the ovoid, double-toothed leaf reaches 5 cm. The color is green on top and bluish below. Flowering duration is 25 days, the inflorescences are hemispherical. In autumn the foliage becomes a solid yellow. Reproduction by dividing the bush, cuttings or seeds is acceptable. The foliage is graceful and the flowers are lush; this variety can easily be trimmed, which is important when forming hedges.

Nippon

This species is native to Hondo Island, Japan. The shape of the bush is spherical, the direction of the branches is horizontal. The foliage remains green almost until the end of autumn. The purple buds open into yellowish-green flowers formed into corymbose inflorescences. The crown structure is compact and the flowering is abundant. Single plantings are most successful for this variety. Among the advantages are the lack of demands on the soil, a variety of propagation methods - dividing the bush, cuttings, sowing seeds. The decorative form of this plant can be narrow-leaved or round-leaved. Both varieties are in demand in Europe.

• Halward's Silver is a meter-long bush with dark green foliage and large convex white inflorescences;
• Snowmound is a two-metre tall shrub with arching branches, elongated leaves and snow-white flowers that open in early summer.

Average

This species is native to the Far East, Central Asia, southern Siberia and Russia. It grows most successfully on dry slopes in thickets of bushes. The shrub has a rounded crown and spreading branches with bright green leaves. The bark of the shoots is slightly peeling. Flowering period - May, duration - 15 days. At the age of three, periods of fruiting begin. Among the advantages are successful growth in shaded areas, frost resistance, and easy propagation by root suckers. This variety is suitable for group and single plantings and tolerates shearing and replanting well.

Thunberg

The birthplace of the culture is Japan, Korea, China. Ideal places for growth are mountain valleys and slopes. The bush barely reaches one and a half meters. In the middle zone, the height is lower, but the branching is dense and the leaves are dense. The decorative effect is high, especially due to orange color leaves in autumn period. Flowering lasts about a month, begins in May and ends in June. A distinctive feature is the rapid ripening of fruits. Flowering and fruiting begins at the age of three. Propagation by cuttings and sowing seeds is available. Light frosting of shoots in winter is acceptable, but spring pruning will correct the situation. This variety is one of the first to bloom.

Group II – summer-flowering species

Summer varieties are distinguished by raspberry, pink and red flowers. Spira pruning, blooming in summer, must be carried out in the spring. This group has extended flowering.

Spiraea japonica

This species is common in China and Japan. The bush is very decorative due to its tomentose shoots and bare leaves. When blooming, the leaf has a red tint, then turns green on top and bluish below. Autumn colors change and become more varied. Flowering continues throughout the summer, the flowers are pink-red. The relevance of the application is observed in the formation of borders, hedges and blooming groups. Spring pruning is mandatory; it is necessary to leave 25 cm of shoots from the soil level. Garden forms are diverse:

• Little Princess is a compact low bush with pink corymbose inflorescences.
• Shirobana is a low bush with a variety of flower colors from white to red.
• Macrophylla - the wrinkled leaves of this variety are swollen and reach sizes of 10x20 cm (young foliage is reddish, mature foliage is green, and gradually becomes yellow-green in autumn). During bud break, trim the plant to 7 cm from the soil level and you will get young shoots that will be red all summer.
• Candlelight dwarf shrub with creamy yellow leaves. The flowers are deep pink and bloom in July. Shoots with green leaves are not formed.
• Goldflame is a dense, meter-long shrub with dark yellow leaves that gradually become bright yellow and then greenish. Pink-red small flowers combine well with variegated foliage.
• Golden Princess is a meter-tall shrub with pink flowers and yellow foliage.
• Gold Mound is a dwarf variety with golden leaves and pink, small flowers.

White

The homeland of this variety is North America, as well as the European and Asian parts of Russia. The shoots of the bush are red-brown, pubescent, ribbed, have serrated, pointed leaves up to 7 cm long and up to 2 cm wide. Pyramidal, pubescent, loose paniculate inflorescences are formed by white flowers, the length of the inflorescence can reach 15 cm. The branches deviate almost horizontally and are formed on shoots of the current year. Annual flowering is observed from mid-summer to the end. The fruiting period begins in October. Propagation by cuttings and seeds is allowed. Planting in hedges, single bushes and groups is relevant. This variety can be called moisture-loving.

Birch-leaved

The birthplace of birch leaf spirea is Japan, Korea, Siberia, and the Far East. The best conditions for growth are rocky slopes, coniferous and mixed forests. The name of this variety is due to the similarity of the leaves to birch leaves. Their shape is elliptical, the base is wedge-shaped. The shrub does not exceed 60 cm in height, has a luxurious spherical crown and zigzag-curved shoots. Young leaves appear in mid-April and fall in mid-autumn. In autumn their color turns bright yellow. The flowers can be white or pinkish. Planting is possible with other species when creating rockeries, as well as among tall shrubs and trees.

Billard

This variety is a hybrid between Douglas spirea and loosestrife. It is most common in the south of the Caucasus, Central Asia and Arkhangelsk. The height of the shrub reaches 2 m, the branches are spreading, the leaves are broadly lanceolate and up to 10 cm long. The flowering period begins at the end of July and ends at the first frost. Among the main advantages are shade tolerance, frost resistance, and ease of propagation by cuttings. Current single and group planting, as well as the formation of hedges. Pruning shoots in early spring will allow you to form the most powerful bush. If you prune the plant early, the color will form on the young shoots this year.

Boumalda

Boumalda

This variety is a hybrid between Japanese and white-flowered spirea. The bush is quite compact and reaches 75 cm in height. The color can range from dark pink to pale pink. Flowering is observed almost all summer. The shoots are ribbed; compared to the Japanese variety, this specimen is lower. The most popular varieties:

• Anthony Waterer;
• Darts Red;
• froebelii;
• Crispa.

Douglas

The most active growth is in North America. The shrub grows upright and is distinguished by pubescent, straight, red-brown shoots. Pink flowers are collected in narrow pyramidal, apical, paniculate inflorescences. Flowering lasts for 45 days. The foliage of the plant is silvery, so the pink flowers stand out against its background.

Willow

This variety is native to China, Japan, North America, Europe and Siberia. The most favorable areas are sedge bogs, river floodplains, and thickets near lakes. The two-meter shrub has yellow-red shoots. The leaves below are lighter than those above. Peduncles are yellow, pubescent, short, formed into cylindrical or pyramidal panicles. Frost resistance is high, the soil should be moist and fresh. Reproduction by cuttings and sowing of seeds is allowed. The first flowering will begin at 4 years of age.

The varieties presented above are excellent for forming color spots in gardens and park areas, and for planting exotic hedges. The main condition is to choose the varieties correctly and successfully combine them taking into account the type of territory.

Spiraea or meadowsweet is a type of deciduous ornamental shrub from the Rosaceae family. Translated from Greek, “speira” means “bend,” and the validity of this name is confirmed by the special flexibility of spirea branches. The main advantage of spirea is its unpretentiousness. Spiraea has more than 100 varieties of shrubs growing in semi-deserts, forest-steppe and steppe.

Japanese spirea: photos and types

Shrubs of the genus Spiraea can be either dwarf (20 cm) or quite tall (up to 2.5 m). The roots are fibrous and shallow. The branches are recumbent or spreading, erect or creeping, from bright burgundy to dark, the bark can peel off longitudinally. The leaves are alternate, petiolate, have 3-5 lobes, rounded or lanceolate. The flowers of the shrub are small, but numerous, and can form a wide variety of inflorescences - spicate, paniculate, corymbose, pyramidal.

The color of the buds varies, from pure white to pink. U different varieties spirea inflorescences are located differently: some completely along the shoot, some only on top of the shoot or only at the end of the branches. Spiraea reproduce by seeds, dividing the bush, cuttings or layering.

The vangutta bush is used for group plantings and hedges. Dwarf species are excellent for organizing living “carpets”, rock gardens and rose gardens. Spiraea also looks beautiful as an independent plant.

Varieties and varieties of spirea

Some varieties and varieties of spirea are often used in cultivation, while others are used quite rarely. According to flowering time, all shrubs are divided into:

• Summer flowering;
• Spring-flowering.

Spring-blooming spirea

They are characterized by early flowering, and are also distinguished by the fact that they have flowers of various shades of pure white, blooming on last year's shoots. It begins to bloom only in the second year of the shoot’s life. These plants are characterized by dense tillering. The following varieties of spirea are popular in gardening.

Gray spirea

This is a hybrid of the whitish-gray and St. John's-leaved spirea - in fact, it is a white spirea, and it is called gray because of the color of the leaves. The plant reaches a size of about 190 cm, branches are drooping, lanceolate leaves are gray below, corymbose buds of white color are located along the entire length of the shoot. It begins to bloom from early May to early July. The most common types.

"Grefsheim"

The height and diameter of this variety is 1.6–2.1 m, red-brown branches, spreading crown, drooping branches, flowers up to 1.1 cm in size, double, pure white, collected in umbrellas. The bush is a honey plant, the flowering period is up to 50 days, it begins to bloom from the age of 2.

Spiraea Wangutta

Vangutta is a hybrid of three-lobed and Cantonese spirea - a large shrub up to 2.5 m high and with a diameter, drooping branches, three-lobed leaves, bare, jagged, bluish below, rich green above, turning orange-red in autumn. Multiple spherical buds of vangutta consist of pure white flowers in a circle up to 0.7 cm and are located along the entire perimeter of the branch. It begins to bloom in early July, and in rare cases it blooms again in September.

Spiraea nipponensis

Under natural conditions it grows on the island. Honshu, grows up to 2.1 m, the crown is dense and spherical, has horizontal branches, leaves up to 5 cm, blooms for up to one month from the end of May with corymbose flowers of green-yellow color up to 1.5 cm in size, and has purple flowers in bud.

Spiraea arguta

The earliest of the spring-blooming flowers. A spreading shrub measuring 1.6–2.1 m, has a rather attractive appearance, and also cascading flowering branches that consist of multiple white fragrant flowers located along all branches. This variety of spirea blooms for one month from the beginning of June.

Spiraea: varieties and photos of flowering shrubs

Summer-blooming spirea

These are varieties where the inflorescences are located at the end of young shoots and in which last year’s shoots dry out over time, first of all. represented by varieties Japanese spirea . In most of its varieties, Japanese spirea is pink, but in rare cases it can be red-pink.

Japanese spirea

A beautiful plant with tomentose branches when young, and bare when they age. Up to 1.1–1.6 m in size, the leaves are ovate and oblong, bluish below, green above, purple, red, yellow in autumn. Japanese spirea blooms for up to 50 days with pink-red buds collected in corymbose inflorescences located at the ends of the shoots. The most common varieties.

Little princesses

The plant is only 0.7 m in size, the crown is 1.3 m in circumference, round, the leaves are rich green, oval in shape, the corymbose buds consist of pink-red flowers with a diameter of 4-5 cm, it begins to bloom at the end of June.

Golden princesses

One of the types of the variety described above is distinguished by the fact that it can grow up to 1.1 m and has yellow leaves.

Shirobana

A low-growing bush (0.7–0.9 m), but the crown size is 1.3 m, the leaves are small (3 cm), rich green, narrow-lanceolate. The buds are pink or white and begin flowering in early July.

Goldflame

The bush is 0.9 m high, the orange-yellow leaves become rich yellow over time, then green, and in the fall - bright orange. The buds are pink-red, small in size.

Crispa

A low openwork bush up to 0.5 m in size and slightly larger in width, multiple erect shoots, a spherical crown, flowers - flat umbrellas measuring 5.6 cm, consisting of small bright pink inflorescences with a lilac tint, begins flowering in June.

In addition to Japanese spirea, there are the following varieties of summer-flowering plants.

Boumalda

This is a hybrid of white-flowered and Japanese spirea - a low bush measuring 60–90 cm. The branches are erect. The leaves are green in summer and yellow, purple, and red in autumn. Flowering lasts approximately 2 months. The most cultivated variety of spirea Bumalda Goldflame. This plant is 0.7 cm in size, the leaves are initially silvery-orange, then become bright gold, then rich green, and in autumn - bright red. But such changes occur when the plant is located in the sun.

Willow spirea

A bush 2 m high with upright branches of a brown-red-yellow hue, the leaves have a pointed shape, up to 15 cm in size, pink or white buds are collected in pyramidal inflorescences approximately 25 cm in size.

Spiraea douglas

A shrub measuring 1.5 m with pubescent and straight brown-red branches. The leaves are 4–9 cm in size, deep pink, oblong buds are collected in pyramidal, apical inflorescences; flowering lasts 1.5 months, starting in June.

Billard

This is a hybrid of willow leaf and Douglas spirea - plant size up to 2.1 m, lanceolate leaves up to 12 cm long, deep pink flowers, collected in narrow pyramidal inflorescences. Flowering begins in early July.

Features of cultivation

Any plant has certain requirements for both cultivation and care. Spiraea also has some features:

• Spiraea prefers turf or leaf soil. The best composition: one part peat and sand and 2 parts earth;
• A drainage layer is definitely required;
• Spirea is planted in a hole that is 1/3 larger than the butt of the bush;
• Planting depth is not less than 1.5 m, while the root collar of the shrub must be at surface level;
• It is necessary to plant spirea in cloudy weather, ideally in rain. Best time- end of August;
• Desirable neighbors - spruce, juniper.

Planting in spring

In spring, only summer spireas are planted. The main condition for planting in the spring is to have time before the leaves begin to bloom. When you purchase plant seedlings, carefully examine the root system - it should not be very dry. Look at the condition of the seedling's shoots, and purchase only if they have good buds and are flexible. Bring planting raw materials into compliance:

• When the roots are damaged or very dry, cut off the branches;
• When the roots of the seedling have grown very large, shorten them.

If the roots are dry during storage, then water them, and only then plant them.

Spiraea red - unpretentious flower in care, but for abundant and long-lasting flowering, some conditions must still be met: the soil must be fertile, and the area must be illuminated by the sun. In addition, spirea bushes create abundant root shoots, which increases the area occupied by the flower, and this must be taken into account when planting spirea.

In the place where the bush will be planted, it is necessary to dig a hole with clearly vertical walls, at least 1/3 larger size seedling roots. Then you need to let the pit stand for 3-5 days. On the day of planting (it is best if the weather is rainy), you need to make a 16–22 cm layer of drainage from broken bricks, add turf or leaf soil, as well as sand and peat, to the hole, mix it all, lower the roots of the plant into the hole, throw earth and then compact it. Immediately after planting, the bush is watered with 1-2 buckets of water.

Planting in autumn

In autumn, both late-flowering and spring-flowering plants are planted. Usually, autumn planting combined with plant seedlings by dividing the bush. This must be done before the leaves fall. Plants that are about 4 years old are replanted and divided; older bushes can also be replanted, but this is more difficult to do due to the large lump of earth, which is difficult to wash off.

The bush must be dug up, covering a diameter of slightly more than half the projection of the crown. Most likely, you will need to chop off a couple of roots, but this will not cause much harm to the bush. After the roots of the extracted plant are washed thoroughly. If the bush is young and has not grown much, simply place it in a bucket of water and let the soil soften and settle in the container, then wash the roots under running water, straightening them as you do so. Cut the plant into 2-3 parts with pruning shears so that each has a root lobe and several strong shoots.

Make a hole, place a mound in the center, place the seedling on it and level the roots. Fill the hole with soil. Water the bush with water in several passes.

Plant care

We have already mentioned the basic requirements:

• good drainage;
• fertile and loose soil;
• bright lighting;
• mulching with peat immediately after planting.

What else is needed for a plant to please you with long and beautiful flowering?

Since spirea has shallow roots, it does not tolerate dry soil well and dries out, so it requires moderate watering during the dry season: 16 l each water per plant twice a month. Loosening the soil is necessary, as is periodic weeding. The plant is fed with mineral supplements after pruning the bush, and in July it is advisable to fertilize the bush with a solution of mullein.

Among the pests of spirea, spider mites and aphids are usually annoying. Mites can be destroyed with karbofos, and aphids with pirimor. But most often, spirea are not susceptible to disease, and pests do not cause much harm.

Trimming

Spiraea grows a lot, so it needs to be pruned periodically. In early flowering plants, since flowering occurs along the entire length of the shoot, only the tips that have frozen over the winter are trimmed each year, but after 10 years, all old shoots are removed from the plant Thus, the bush is cut off almost to the stump, so that a new bush can then be formed from the 4–7 healthy young shoots, cutting off other shoots during the growing season. After a few years, old or weak shoots are removed from the plant again. At the ends of the shoots, pruning should be done in the spring, before the leaves bloom.

Summer-flowering plants are pruned every year in May. It is necessary to trim the shoot to large buds; it is advisable to remove small and weak shoots altogether. The stronger the pruning, the more powerful the shoots will be. It is necessary to periodically remove aging shoots, otherwise they will dry out on their own. When the plant is 4 years old, you can cut the spirea every year to a height of 35 cm from the surface of the earth, but if even then the bushes have weak growth, you need to think about replacing the flower, although, in general, late-flowering varieties live 16–21 years.

From the photo of spirea in landscape design one can judge the high decorativeness and versatility of this flower in different seasons of the year. In spring, the bushes are early covered with beautiful variegated or green leaves, then abundant, and long flowering, even after which spirea does not lose its attractiveness.

Japanese spirea is a shrub that is in demand in landscape design. The flowering plant is presented in several varieties, each of which differs in appearance, characteristics and growth characteristics. Therefore, before planting, you need to take into account the properties of the varieties, growing rules and a number of other criteria.

What is Japanese Spiraea?

This plant is an ornamental shrub that belongs to the Rosaceae family. The freely branching stems of the plant have simple leaves with slightly serrated edges, and the height of the bush can be from 1.2 m. Small spirea flowers are collected in large inflorescences, which are located throughout the bush. Their placement depends on the plant variety. In this case, shades can be from pale pink to rich crimson.

Spiraea bushes are compact in size and bloom profusely

In its natural environment, spirea grows in the Mediterranean climate, in Central Asia, Altai and the Caucasus. In these regions optimal conditions. IN middle lane Not all varieties can grow in Russia, otherwise their growth is impaired, flowering becomes weak and short-lived.

Varieties with photos and brief descriptions

In gardening and landscape design, both spring-flowering plants (buds form early) and plants that bloom buds in summer are used. Of all these types, the following varieties are popular:

• Gray spirea is a spring-flowering species and forms snow-white inflorescences on long branches. Grayish-green leaves grow densely throughout the bush. The plant is a hybrid created by crossing two other variants: St. John's wort and white-gray. The height of the bush can reach 2 m. This variety is often called Grefsheim;

  Gray spirea looks impressive and is suitable for garden landscape design

• Nippon spirea is a shrub that can reach a height of 2.1 m, has a spherical crown, white inflorescences and oval-shaped green leaves. Flowers can be up to 15 mm in diameter and are white, but there are also red elements. The plant variety requires careful and complex care. The bushes are early flowering and produce flowers in the spring;

  Spiraea Nippon has a spherical crown and rounded leaves.

• Spiraea Golden Princess is characterized by frost resistance, has lilac or slightly pinkish flowers, collected spherical inflorescences. Cultivation is carried out in a well-lit area. The bushes have a spherical crown and are characterized by their stockiness. The light green leaves have pronounced teeth;

  Spiraea Golden Princess may have pink or pale lilac flowers

• The Little Princess variety is a bush that grows up to 60 cm. The bluish-green foliage is oval-elongated, and the flowers have a light pink tone. The shrub grows slowly, suitable for single planting. Flowers may turn pale when exposed to the sun;

  Spiraea Little Princess is suitable for single planting

• Spiraea Goldflame grows up to 80 cm. The shade of the leaves varies from reddish-orange to yellow. The elongated shape of the leaves, crimson buds, light green tone of the leaves during flowering - these features characterize the Goldflame variety;

  Spiraea flowers contrast with the leaves in shade

• The Shirobana shrub blooms in summer and the buds range in shades from pale pink and white to red. Plant height can reach 80 cm, lanceolate green dark tone. The diameter of the bush is about 1 m, and flowering lasts during July and August. This variety is also called Genpei or Japanese tricolor spirea;

  The Shirobana variety has buds of different shades

• Spiraea japonica variant Crispa is a shrub whose height is about 80 cm. The leaves are wavy and toothed, dark green in color, and when blooming they turn slightly red. The flowers are collected in inflorescences of a pinkish-purple hue. Suitable for single planting and creating bush groups, grows well in moist and well-drained soil;

  Crispa is suitable for group and single plantings

• Darts Red bushes have a height of no more than 1.1 m and a diameter of 1 m. Straight shoots branch well, forming a dense crown without gaps. The sharp-tipped leaves have toothed edges, and young twigs and leaves have a reddish tint. Pinkish-red flowers may appear on the bushes 2 times during the summer. Flowering continues all summer;

  Crimson or red flowers decorate the bush

• a rounded shrub, up to 1 m high, with oval-shaped leaves and reddish color when blooming - this is Frobeli spirea. In summer, the leaves of the plant become dark green, and in the fall they turn burgundy again. Flowering - from July to September, large pink flowers adorn the bush. The plant is resistant to cold weather and undemanding to soil;

  Spiraea Frobeli is decorated with green leaves in summer

• Albiflora can be 1.5 m in diameter and up to 0.8 m in height. From July to August, inflorescences in the form of shields of small white buds. The lanceolate, light green leaves turn yellow in the fall. Grows in fertile and airy soil, loves light, does not tolerate drought;

  Any varieties of spirea require regular pruning of branches

• The Antoni Waterer variety is distinguished by its inflorescences of a rich crimson hue. The inflorescences are corymbose and can reach 15 cm in diameter. The bushes have many straight shoots and can withstand frost, but young branches can freeze. The spherical crown and spreading shape of the plant allows it to be planted singly;

  Spiraea japonica Anthony Waterer has bright flowers

• Japanese spirea Magic Carpet is a dwarf shrub with a height of 50 cm and a diameter of up to 80 cm. The crown is dense and cushion-shaped. The leaves have a reddish tone when blooming, then turn yellow and acquire a copper tint in the fall. Pink flowers are collected in corymbose-type inflorescences, the plant is frost-resistant;

  The bushes are spherical in shape

• The Goldmound variety is characterized by short stature (height up to 60 cm), and the crown diameter is 1.2 m. The leaves change tone from light green to yellow. The plant blooms in June - July with small pink inflorescences located on young shoots. It is frost-resistant and tolerates partial shade, but grows better in a sunny area;

  Light leaves characterize the Goldmound variety

• spirea variety Firelight has a height of up to 60 cm and arched branches. Young leaves are bright red, turning green-yellow in summer and red-orange in autumn. Pink flowers bloom from June to September. The plant is pruned in the spring. The bushes are frost-resistant and have a loose crown;

  Spreading branches create a loose crown

• The Japanese spirea variety Macrophila is characterized by spreading branches, up to 1.3–1.5 m high, straight and rigid stems. The leaves are large, up to 20 cm long and 10 cm wide, wrinkled and swollen. When blooming, the leaves are red, turn green in summer, and yellow in autumn. Small inflorescences of pink flowers are lost against the background of large foliage. Flowering - from July to August;

  Red leaves compensate for small flowers

• Japanese spirea Nana is a dwarf plant, as it reaches a height of no more than 50 cm and a diameter of 80 cm. Flowering lasts from July to September, the red inflorescences have a corymbose shape. The oblong leaves are dark green in color when blooming, have a red tone, and become orange in the fall;

  The Nana variety has a laconic appearance

Application in landscape design

Many varieties of spirea are unpretentious in care and can be grown in central Russia and can even withstand winters with temperatures down to -25 °C. This is due to the fact that modern views plants are adapted to different climatic conditions and therefore spirea can be used for garden landscape design in different regions.

There are many options for designing a site using decorative bushes. The following solutions are often used:

• spirea border - an effective design option garden paths. Low-growing bushes with a dense crown are suitable for this purpose. In each row you can place either one plant variety or alternate two types of spirea. The gray spirea and Nipponian spirea look beautiful;

  Decorating paths with bushes is convenient for a large garden or park

• Low-growing bushes with a dense crown are planted in rock gardens or rock gardens. The combination of spirea and spruce trees is effective, around which bushes are planted. And you can also combine several varieties of bushes that contrast with each other;

  Spiraea goes well with different plants

• varieties of bushes whose height is more than 80 cm are optimal for single planting on the site. The plant can be placed near a gazebo, bench, playground, or pond. Tall bushes with spreading branches, for example Macrophila, will provide light shade;

  Tall bushes often do not require combination with other plants

• a hedge of spirea bushes can be created from plants whose height is more than 80 cm. This solution allows you to zone a large area or separate functional areas of the park.

  Using spirea it is easy to make a decorative hedge

The shrub is suitable as an independent element of landscape design. For example, single bushes can be evenly distributed throughout the area or a group can be created from spirea of ​​different varieties.

How to use as a hedge: video

Planting a plant

The plant is grown in fertile, loose and moist soil. This condition will ensure good growth of spirea of ​​any variety, but it is equally important to choose the right young plant. Seedlings should be purchased only from specialized stores, garden centers or nurseries. Thanks to this, you can get a healthy plant of the desired variety.

Basic rules for selecting and preparing spirea seedlings:

• the root system of the purchased seedling must be closed, that is, with a lump of earth;
• the shoot should not have fully blossomed leaves, because such plants do not tolerate transplantation into the ground;
• The presence of several second-order branches on the shoot is appropriate. They should not be too spreading;
• a good seedling has light green bark, the buds should not be damaged;
• Before planting, long roots are shortened to 30 cm. If the root system is dry, then the seedling is first placed in water for a day.

If the seedling is in a pot, then it is important to make sure. that his capacity is not small

If you purchase a seedling in a pot, you need to inspect the openings of the container. When roots stick out of them, it means the container is too small for the plant and it has been there for a very long time. Such vegetation will take a long time and be difficult to take root in open ground.

Best regions for planting

Spiraea grows well in many regions. For example, all varieties are suitable for the Krasnodar Territory, the Caucasus and Asia, since the climate here is warm. For cultivation in the Urals, in the western and southern parts of Siberia, in central Russia, frost-resistant species are chosen. Gray spirea, Vanguta, Billarda, Firelight and others that tolerate frost down to -25 °C are suitable for these areas.

Planting stages

After selecting high-quality seedlings of the optimal variety for the region, planting is carried out. The main rules and main stages of this process, carried out in the fall, are expressed as follows:

It is best to plant seedlings not in a freshly dug hole, but in a hole created 2–3 days before transplanting the plant. During this time, the soil will be ventilated and the bush will be comfortable. If the soil is clayey, then crushed stone and sand are added to it in layers of 20 cm. Before planting, slightly moisten the soil that is too dry and hard, but it is best to plant the plant in cloudy and rainy weather. It is worth remembering that summer-flowering varieties are planted in the ground in the spring until the buds open. If the plant is a spring flowering plant, then this process is carried out in the fall. Bushes can be grown in one place for about 15 years.

What care needs to be provided

After planting the seedling in open ground The multi-stage process of caring for the plant begins. One of the main actions is watering, which is carried out 2 – 3 times per season. If the summer is dry and hot, then you can increase the frequency of irrigation of the bush. For irrigation use ordinary clean water.

Young seedlings need protection winter period. To do this, you need to cover the soil near the trunk with foliage and geotextiles, and tie the thin trunk to a peg installed nearby.

In summer, the plant is fed. Mullein diluted in 10 liters of water and 10 g of superphosphate are sufficient for this purpose. You can use Kemira universal and other components in the second year of bush growth.

With proper care, young bushes bloom very quickly

Pruning is one of the main stages of plant care, allowing you to give the bush the required form. In spring-flowering varieties, after flowering ends, dry shoots and old branches are removed with sharp garden scissors.

Bushes are pruned regularly, but carefully

Summer-flowering bushes are pruned from the fourth year after planting. They make a radical haircut, removing the old lower and upper shoots. If you remove only the tops, then the new shoots will be thin and with small inflorescences. It is important to remember that in the first years you cannot prune the bushes too much. Only dry, damaged branches are removed.

Solving possible problems when growing Japanese spirea

Most varieties of Japanese spirea are unpretentious and do not require special care. If problems arise during cultivation, then you should pay attention to the conditions in which the bush grows.

Spiraea in the process of growth and flowering is susceptible to the following problems:

• Infestation by aphids, rose leaf miner, and leaf roller is possible from mid to late summer. In such cases, an inspection is carried out, the affected areas are identified and the plant is sprayed with solutions such as pirimor - 0.1%, kronefos - 0.3%, ethafos - 0.2%, hostaquik - 0.1%;
• Keltan, fozalon, metaphos, phosphamide, acrex are used to combat spider mites. It is best to start processing before three mites appear;
• If at the height of the season the branches and leaves begin to dry, then you need to make sure there is sufficient watering and the quality of the soil. If necessary, fertilize and water the plant.

These problems are the main ones, and it is possible to prevent pests by regularly irrigating the bushes.

Plant propagation methods

If propagation of Japanese spirea bushes is required, then different methods are used for this. In each case it is important to use a quality base planting material, as well as prepare the soil on the site and in pots.

Reproduction is carried out using the following methods:

• Planting with seeds is not used for varieties such as Billarda, Van Gutta, Bumalda. Other species can be propagated by seeds, and to do this they are placed in early spring in containers with high-quality and loose soil. The strengthened sprouts are planted in the soil on the site, but after pinching off the main root. Young plants are watered thoroughly, and when it gets cold, they are covered with a plastic transparent container;

  Young sprouts are protected from the cold

• For cuttings, you need to cut the half-lignified shoots into pieces 10 cm in length. To activate the appearance of roots, use special remedy"Kornevin". The ends of the cuttings are dipped into the solution before planting, which is best done in a container with soil. The strengthened sprouts are transferred to the site;

  The cuttings are kept in water for several days

• To obtain up to 5 new bushes, you can use the method of propagation by layering. In the spring, when the first leaves appear, you need to bend the branch of the bush to the ground, secure it with wire and sprinkle it with earth. The end of this branch can be tied to a stake fixed in the ground. Moderate watering and loosening will ensure the appearance of a new bush next spring.

  Part of the branch is sprinkled with earth, and part is attached to a peg

All these methods are easy to implement, but it is important to determine the planting location of the resulting bushes. When propagated by layering, the plants will be located next to each other, which should be taken into account if it is important landscape design plot.

Video: summer pruning of Japanese spirea bushes

The choice of variety, planting, propagation and care of Japanese spirea are no different from growing many other ornamental and fruit-bearing shrubs. At the same time, all stages of plant care are required, because it is then that the bushes will decorate the garden.

- These are deciduous ornamental shrubs that grow cultivated and wild in almost all regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Thanks to the efforts of breeders, the range of natural species has been significantly expanded, and today gardeners can choose from almost a hundred species of amazing beauty and different from each other.

You can find a shrub to your liking by studying photos and descriptions of popular varieties of spirea, which include plants:

• with different colors of inflorescences and leaves;
• fairly large and dwarf crown sizes;
• spring and summer flowering periods.

With all the diversity of the world of spirea, all types of shrubs are unpretentious, and already in the third year they are ready to please gardeners with the first inflorescences.

Spiraea japonica Golden Princess

Golden Princess - spirea with a wide rounded crown only 0.6 meters high and twice as large in diameter. A characteristic feature of this shrub, which blooms from mid-summer until autumn, is its decorative foliage, which, depending on the season, changes color from yellow-green to deep yellow and even orange.

The oblong leaves densely covering the erect shoots do not exceed 7 cm in length and are jagged along the edges. Against such a bright background, the corymbose pink or reddish inflorescences of the Golden Princess spirea, about 5 cm in diameter, look great. The shrub tolerates midland winters well and does not require painstaking care or special soil mixtures, but it blooms best in good light.

Spiraea Goldflame (Spiraea japonica Goldflame)

The Gold Flame spirea, which blooms profusely in summer, is not as surprising with its rich pink paniculate or thyroid inflorescences as with its unusually bright jagged foliage, which when it appears has a purple tint, then becomes light yellow, and by autumn it turns into a real orange-yellow flame with carmine glimpses. Thanks to this feature, the variety got its name.

A shrub with a height of about 0.6–0.8 meters in the middle zone blooms in the second ten days of June, and the last flowers fade only by mid-August. The culture grows quite slowly, giving only 10 cm of growth per year. In garden plantings, Gold Flame spirea can be used to decorate a flower garden and as a basis for a low plant. The shrub will not cause trouble if it is planted in loose soil, receives regular watering and has enough sunlight, without which the yellow foliage will fade or turn green.

Spiraea japonica Macrophylla

Belonging to the group of summer-flowering shrubs, Spiraea Macrophila is valuable not for its pink inflorescences, but for its variegated foliage, the color of which becomes more saturated at the tops of the shoots and creates the main decorative effect. The wrinkled, dissected leaves of this species, which are unusually large for a spirea, reach 20 cm in length and 10 cm in width. In spring they have a violet or purple-red color, in which by the height of summer green tones already predominate, and by autumn the foliage becomes golden yellow.

Due to the high growth rate inherent in Spiraea Macrophila , and pruning the plant in May to a height of 10–30 cm from the ground level, gardeners achieve a constantly bright coloring of the apical leaves on newly appearing shoots, as in the spirea photo. The plant tolerates moderate frosts without loss and does not require additional shelter for the winter. When decorating a garden, spirea of ​​this type is indispensable for those made up of perennial flowering plants, as a frame for garden paths and decoration for the sunny side of buildings.

Spiraea japonica Genpei/Shirobana

The uniqueness of Shirobana spirea or, as this spectacular variety Jenpei is also called, lies in the immediate presence of flowers of various colors on the corymbose inflorescence. During mass flowering, the bush is strewn with thousands of small flowers of all shades, from snow-white to bright pink, as in the photo of the spirea of ​​this variety. The shrub itself, with a dense, almost spherical crown, is low-growing and does not exceed 0.8 meters in height. To maintain the shape of the crown, in the spring the bush is pruned to a level of 10–15 cm from the ground.

The shoots, like many representatives of the Japanese spirea species, are erect or slightly inclined, covered with red-brown thin bark. The leaves of the Shiroban spirea, densely strewn with branches, are dark green, narrowly lanceolate, and the inflorescences up to 7 cm in diameter decorating the bush appear in early July, and flowering stops only in August. With the high decorative value of the variety, it easily tolerates cultivation in difficult urban conditions, but feels better in areas with loose, light soil and plenty of sunlight.

Spiraea japonica Crispa

The graceful spirea Crispa is a shrub with a spherical crown formed from erect or slightly drooping shoots. The height of the unpretentious plant, suitable for use in borders or growing in containers, is about 0.6 meters. Numerous shoots are covered with oblong leaves, heavily dissected along the edges, which are reddish in color when they appear, become predominantly green in the summer, and by October they acquire an orange, bronze or purple color.

The flowers of this variety, like the spirea in the photo, are simple, pink or purple and are collected in small inflorescences up to 6 cm in diameter. Any soil is suitable for Crispa spirea, as long as it is well aerated and not oversaturated with moisture. If in particularly frosty winters some of the shoots suffer. After pruning, the bush is easily restored, but it is important to consider that the growth rate of this variety is low.

Spiraea Goldmound (Spiraea japonica Goldmound)

Bush With Piraeus Goldmound, up to half a meter high and about 60 cm wide, is shaped like a ball slightly compressed from above. Distinctive feature varieties - yellow summer foliage color, which in spring has a reddish tint.

The dense crown of Goldmound spirea with an abundance of medium-sized leaves from June to August is decorated with delicate pink flowers, united in sparse corymbose or umbellate inflorescences. Like other related species, this spirea needs pruning of old and dry shoots every few years. Otherwise, the shrub is unpretentious and grows quite quickly.

Dwarf spirea (Spiraea x pumilionum Zabel)

Hybrid dwarf spirea, barely reaching 30 cm in height, was obtained by crossing creeping spirea and Hacket. This is a ground cover, creeping plant with elliptical pointed foliage, 1 to 3 cm long. Compared to other related species and varieties, dwarf spirea is quite rare in cultivation, although the plant is unpretentious and very attractive.

White flowers, strewing the bush from June to September, are collected in 5-centimeter corymbose inflorescences. In winter, some of the shoots may freeze, but new branches quickly appear to replace them and are already covered with flowers this year.

White spirea (Spiraea alba)

In the wild, white spirea, shown in the photo at the beginning of flowering, is common on the North American continent and a number of European and Siberian regions of Russia. The shrub, growing up to 1.6 meters in height, has been known as a cultivated plant since 1759. Unlike the varieties of spirea, whose photos and descriptions were given above, the crown of this plant is not round, but elongated, consisting of ribbed, erect shoots covered with red-brown pubescent bark.

Pointed, serrate leaves reach 7 cm in length, but do not exceed 2 cm in width. White spirea, as in the photo, has paniculate or racemose inflorescences from 6 to 15 cm in length, uniting many simple white flowers. This spectacular shrub can be propagated by seeds, but cuttings give the best effect.

Spiraea salicifolia Rosea

Pink spirea or Rosea is an unpretentious shrub that blooms profusely from mid-summer until autumn. An adult plant reaches a height of one and a half meters and forms a vertically directed rounded crown up to 1.3–1.5 meters in diameter. A characteristic feature of the variety is high winter hardiness and a 20-centimeter annual growth of powerful, erect shoots covered with red-brown bark. Pink spirea has elongated, up to 10 cm long green leaves and small pink flowers collected in dense paniculate inflorescences.

Spiraea viburnum (Physocarpus opulifolius)

Found in the middle zone not only of the European part of Russia, but also in North America, as well as in Siberia, the viburnum vesicle is often known to gardeners as spirea viburnum. Indeed, the plants belong to the same family and are somewhat similar in appearance, but it is incorrect to call this plant spirea.

The spherical crown of the bush, up to 3 meters high, is formed from drooping branches. The leaves are three-lobed, corrugated with heavily dissected edges; their shape is very reminiscent of viburnum leaves, which gave the name to this species. The color of the foliage can be either dark green, bronze or burgundy. From mid-June to the end of July, the crown of the vesicular carp is covered with round corymbose inflorescences, consisting of many small white or pinkish flowers.

Spiraea rowan leaf (Sorbaria sorbifolia)

Another ornamental plant, which claims to be called Spiraea rowan-leaved, is a fieldfare, an indigenous inhabitant of Siberia and the Far East, cultivated today from the northern border of the forest zone of Russia to the steppes. Confusion in the classification is caused by the external similarity of fieldfare and some species of spirea, as well as their common membership in the Rosaceae family. However, fieldfare belongs to a different genus than spirea, but this does not make it any less attractive and interesting plant, reaching a height of 3 meters in 4 years.

A large shrub that lives up to 20 years has erect branches with brownish-gray bark, forming a dense spherical crown. The leaves are really similar to the foliage of rowan, but more pointed. And young foliage, which is one of the first to appear in the garden, is often purple in color. In July, white fragrant flowers collected in pyramidal paniculate inflorescences, up to 20–25 cm long, open abundantly.

Video about Spirea Gold Mound

The most beautiful deciduous shrub, familiar to almost everyone, is spirea. A plant that is popularly called “meadowsweet” in another way, and from ancient Greek its name is literally translated “bend”. This is confirmed by the beautiful flexibility of graceful shoots.

Spirea, planting and caring for which is not particularly difficult, was first mentioned in the epic “Sadko”, further its description is found in the dictionary of V.I. Dahl, who explained that meadowsweet shoots, due to their thinness and strength, were used for ramrods and as whips .

Description of spirea

Semi-deserts, steppe and forest-steppe areas are territories where the beautiful spirea feels comfortable. Its types are diverse and are characterized by frost resistance, decorativeness and duration of flowering. Among the varieties of spirea, there are both dwarf specimens (up to 15 cm in height) and tall ones, reaching up to 2.5 meters. Spiraea is a shrub that has a fibrous root system that goes shallow underground. The branches of the bush, the color of which in nature ranges from light brown to dark, are erect or creeping, spreading or recumbent. The bark has the property of longitudinal peeling. Spiraea leaves are alternate, petiolate, lanceolate or round, three- or five-lobed. Small numerous flowers, the color of which varies from pale white to crimson, form inflorescences various shapes: paniculate, pyramidal, spicate, corymbose. She is such a beautiful and diverse spirea. Its types are characterized by different positions of the inflorescences: in some they are located along the entire length of the shoots, in others - only on the upper part, in others - at the ends of the branches.

Spiraea as a decorative element of the garden

Spirea, planting and caring for which brings true joy due to the undemanding nature of the plant, is divided into species that bloom in spring and spring. summer period.

Dwarf varieties of spirea look spectacular in rock gardens, when creating living “carpets” and in rocky gardens. It looks harmonious even when completely alone. Snow-white spirea is a shrub that adds elegance to the entire surrounding environment. Shrubs regular size used for group plantings and creating hedges.

Spring spirea, varieties of which have early dates flowering, characterized by strong tillering and flowers of exclusively white shades, blooming on the shoots of the previous year.

Spring varieties of shrubs

Spiraea gray - the most common variety, the flowering period of which is May - June. Being a hybrid of whitish-gray and St. John's wort, the bush, contrary to its name, blooms along the entire length of the branches with white flowers formed into corymbose inflorescences. Gray view named for the color of the leaves. The height of the bush is 180 cm, drooping branches, lanceolate leaves.

Spiraea gray "Grefsheim". The bush, whose diameter varies from 1.5 to 2 meters, has a spreading crown with drooping, red-brown branches. Snow-white double flowers collected in umbrellas are 1 cm in diameter. The plant is a honey plant, the flowering period, starting from the 2nd year of planting, is about 45 days.

Hemispherical numerous inflorescences consist of small (6 mm) white flowers located along the entire length of the branch. Spiraea Vangutta, the care of which does not cause any difficulties, will delight you with its flowering in June - August.

Spiraea Arguta. This is the earliest flowering of the existing species of spirea. A huge (1.5-2 meters in diameter), spreading bush has a beautiful shape. The flowering branches, reminiscent of a foamy snow-white waterfall, consist of small fragrant flowers flowing along the entire length of the shoots. This charming spectacle (the flowering of arguta) lasts only 3 weeks, starting from the end of May.

Spiraea Nippon. In nature, this type of shrub, reaching a height of 2 meters, grows on the island of Honshu. Characteristic features: a dense spherical crown formed by horizontally located branches that remain green until late autumn. The leaves reach 4.5 cm in length, the flowers are small, yellow-green, although the color of the corymbose inflorescences is purple. Flowering lasts three weeks, starting in June.

Spiraea bush: summer varieties

Summer-flowering spirea, the varieties of which are numerous, are characterized in addition to flowering times by the arrangement of inflorescences. With skillful selection of varieties, spirea will delight you with continuous long flowering throughout the season. A striking representative of this species is Japanese spirea, caring for which is a real pleasure - it is a beautiful shrub, blooming red pink flowers, collected in beautiful inflorescences. Shoots are tomentose-pubescent in at a young age, becoming bare as they age. The height of the bush is 1-1.5 meters. The leaves are ovate, oblong, green on top, bluish on the underside. In autumn they turn red, yellow and purple. The flowering of the shrub with inflorescences located at the ends of the shoots lasts 45 days.

Varieties of Japanese spirea

Spiraea japonica "Golden Princess". A shrub with a spherical crown, oval yellow leaves and corymbose inflorescences consisting of pink-red flowers. Flowering occurs in June - July.

Spiraea japonica "Little Princess". A low shrub, up to 60 cm. The crown is 1.2 meters in diameter, rounded. The leaves are oval, dark green. The inflorescences are corymbose and consist of red-pink flowers.

Spiraea japonica "Shirobana". The shrub is low, up to 80 cm with a fairly spreading (up to 1.2 meters in diameter) crown. The leaves are small, dark green, narrow-lanceolate in shape. The snow-white or pink blooms are mesmerizing; the timing is July - August.

Spiraea japonica "Goldflame". It is a low shrub, reaching a height of 80 cm, with small red-pink flowers. This spirea is original due to its yellow-orange leaves, which over time become bright yellow, and in the fall they acquire a copper-orange color. Yellow spirea Goldflame is a true decoration of the site, repeatedly changing the shades of foliage throughout the season.

Spiraea japonica "Crispa". This shrub stands out for its original openwork; its height is about half a meter, slightly wider. The spherical crown with numerous erect shoots is distinguished by soft pink umbrella-type inflorescences. Flowering occurs in July and lasts about 2 months.

Varieties of summer spirea varieties

Spiraea Boumalda. It is a hybrid of white-flowered and Japanese, has erect shoots with leaves: green in the summer and acquiring rich orange-purple shades in the fall. The shrub is low-growing, reaching a height of 50 - 80 cm. This spirea blooms with pink flowers (from pale to dark shades), this process falls in July and lasts about 2 months.

Spiraea Douglas. A fairly tall (up to 1.5 meters) spreading bush, characterized by erect, pubescent stems of red-brown color. The leaves are oblong and lanceolate in shape. The flowers are dark pink, collected in apical, paniculate-pyramidal narrow inflorescences, which bloom in July - September.

Spiraea willow. A tall two-meter shrub characterized by upright growing shoots that have a red-yellow-brown color. The leaves are up to 10 cm long, pointed, as can be judged from the name of this type of spirea. The flowers (pink or white) are formed in pyramidal-paniculate inflorescences, the length of which reaches 20 cm.

Spiraea Billarda. This is the result of crossing the willow spirea and Douglas. A winter-hardy variety, characterized by spreading branches, broadly lanceolate leaves about 10 cm long, bright pink flowers, united in paniculate inflorescences. Flowering occurs in the second half of summer and continues until frost. The shrub loves sunlight, although it can grow in the shade.

Spiraea: landing

Spirea should be planted in the spring, before the leaves bloom. The area intended for planting should be located in a sunny place; Spiraea prefers fertile soil, despite its unpretentiousness. When planning the placement of spirea on a site, one should take into account the abundant growth of basal shoots, which helps to increase the area occupied by the plant. For planting, you should prepare a hole slightly larger than the volume of the root system of the seedling prepared for planting. By the way, the seedling should be inspected before planting; if the roots are too overgrown, the latter should be shortened. If the roots are dry, you need to cut off the branches of the plant, which is also placed in a container with water, and then planted.

The prepared planting hole should stand for 2-4 days. On the day of planting, which is recommended to be done in cloudy weather, the bottom of the hole should be filled with a 15-20 cm drainage layer of broken brick. With clay soil type, you need to add 1 part sand and peat and 2 parts turf or leaf soil to the hole. The spirea seedling should be lowered into the hole, carefully straighten its roots, cover it with soil (not higher than the root collar), and then compact the soil. After planting, the plant needs to be watered (water consumption per bush is 1-2 buckets) and mulched with peat.

Autumn planting of spirea is usually combined with the planting of an adult plant, which is done by dividing the bush, the optimal age of which is 3-4 years. It is more difficult to divide older plants due to the impressive earthen lump, which is inconvenient to remove from the ground and wash.

To divide the bush, the latter should be dug up, covering an area along the circumference that is slightly more than half of the crown projection. In any case, a few roots will be damaged by the shovel, but the plant will not suffer much from this. After removing the plant, the roots should be washed well, after which the bush should be cut into 2-3 parts with pruning shears so that each has 2-3 strong shoots and a root lobe.

Then you should dig a hole and place a mound in the middle of it. Next, you need to install the seedling, level its roots, then cover it with soil and compact it. Next, the planted plant needs to be watered abundantly.

Spiraea: care features

The spirea shrub, which is easy to plant and care for, is a completely unpretentious plant; important to her solar lighting, good drainage and mulching with peat immediately after planting. If such factors are observed, the shrub will fully delight with its abundant, exquisite flowering and luxurious, dense foliage.

Moderate watering of the plant is required, especially in the dry season, since the shrub has a shallow root system that does not tolerate dry soil well and begins to dry out when there is a lack of moisture, which means that in the summer it needs to be watered 2 times a month, spending about 15 liters of water per bush .

Important factors in caring for spirea are loosening and weeding in order to saturate the soil with oxygen.

Fertilizing of spirea is done after pruning the bush with complex mineral fertilizers. In mid-summer, spirea can be fed with mullein infusion with superphosphate added to it at the rate of 10 grams of the drug per 10 liters of solution.

For the most part, spirea is a plant that is not susceptible to diseases, but such a shrub still has a certain number of enemies.

Potential enemies of spirea are aphids and spider mites. The use of the drug “Pyrimor” is effective against aphids; “Karbofos” can easily cope with spider mites.

Spiraea: description of the pruning process

Spiraea is a shrub with a rich crown, which tends to grow, therefore, it needs such an element of care as pruning. In early-flowering varieties, it is necessary to cut off only the tips that have frozen in winter, because their flowering occurs along the length of the entire shoot. Once every 7-14 years, old shoots must be completely removed, cutting the plant almost to the stump. From the strongest young shoots in the amount of 5-6 pieces in the future, form a renewed bush, removing the remaining branches during the growing season. After 1-2 years, pruning of the spirea will be required again, during which the bush should be rid of weak and old shoots.

Summer-flowering shrubs are pruned in early spring every year. The shoots are shortened to large buds; weak and old branches should be disposed of. The stronger the pruning of the spirea, the more massive and powerful the shoots will be. Once the bush reaches 4 years of age, it can be cut to a height of 30 cm from the surface of the ground.

Spiraea: reproduction

In addition to dividing the bush, spirea is propagated by cuttings, offsets and seeds (for non-hybrid varieties). When cuttings, the rooting rate of the plant is quite high and amounts to 70%. Early flowering spirea should be cut from early June, late flowering shrubs - at the end of June - July. Lignified cuttings are planted in the autumn (September - October).

For cuttings, you should cut off a one-year-old shoot, cut it into pieces, leaving 5-6 leaves on each. The lower leaves on each cutting must be removed along with the petioles, the rest must be cut to half a leaf. After this, the cuttings should be placed in an epin solution for half a day (at the rate of 1 ml per 2 liters of water); then the lower node of the cutting needs to be treated with the Kornevin stimulator, after which the spirea seedlings are planted in a container with wet sand at an angle of 30-45 degrees. Planted plants, previously covered with film or glass, must be placed in the shade and sprayed with water 2-3 times a day. Before the onset of frost, the cuttings need to be buried in the garden bed, covered with leaves, with an inverted box on top and left in this state until spring. In the spring, ready-made young seedlings will produce new shoots, after which they can be planted in a permanent place of growth.

Spiraea, which is also propagated by layering, takes root quite easily. The process of abduction consists of placing the growing shoot of spirea into a groove previously dug in the ground; the bent branch needs to be pinned and covered with earth. In the fall, the cuttings should be carefully removed from the ground, divided into regrown shoots and planted.

Spirea, planting and caring for which even a beginner can do, is the most beautiful plant- unpretentious and effectively ennobling any area with its original inflorescences. Spiraea looks especially harmonious against the background of a lawn or buildings, and in a composition with thuja or juniper it will improve any area.