Plants
Spirea
Spiraea · Rosaceae
Spirea is the workhorse among flowering shrubs: fully hardy, happy to be pruned, undemanding about soil and, depending on the species, in flower from April to August. Spring bloomers such as bridal wreath spirea shower themselves in white flower clusters, while summer spireas glow pink to carmine and stay nicely compact. For border edgings, low hedges and low-maintenance areas there is hardly anything more dependable.
- Light
- Sun to semi-shade; full sun gives the densest bloom.
- Watering
- Very undemanding; water only young plants and containers regularly.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Spiraea
The practical key is the split into two groups: spring bloomers such as bridal wreath spirea (Spiraea arguta) or Vanhoutte spirea flower white on last year's wood, mostly in April and May. Summer bloomers such as Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica) with cultivars like „Anthony Waterer“ or „Little Princess“ flower pink to carmine on the current year's wood from June to August.
The whole pruning plan follows from this division: spring bloomers are thinned straight after flowering, while summer bloomers are cut back hard — happily by half — in early spring, because they flower on new growth. Treat both groups the same and you lose the bloom on one of them; that is the most common spirea mistake.
Spiraea is modest about position: full sun is ideal, semi-shade is tolerated, and it makes hardly any demands on soil as long as there is no permanent waterlogging. Summer spireas are also among the best bee shrubs of high summer — on a sunny day an „Anthony Waterer“ literally hums.
In design terms, the low Japanese spireas are perfect structure-givers: as an edging around rose or perennial beds, as ground-covering planting along woodland edges, or as durable, low-maintenance grave planting. Cultivars with golden new growth such as „Goldflame“ add foliage colour; the tall spring bloomers look best as specimens or in a free-growing flowering hedge.
For the vase, flowering branches of bridal wreath spirea are a spring classic: the overflowing white garlands of bloom give large bouquets movement and volume. Cut the stems at an angle and place them deep in water straight away — they then last several days without heavy shattering.
Is Spirea toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
Spirea is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and children. The plant contains small amounts of salicylates (related to the active compound in aspirin), so eating larger quantities is still not advised.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Sunny position for the richest bloom; semi-shade is tolerated.
- 02Any ordinary garden soil will do; just avoid permanent waterlogging.
- 03Thin spring-flowering spireas straight after they bloom.
- 04Cut summer-flowering spireas back hard in early spring.
- 05Deadhead summer spireas to extend the flowering period.
- 06Remove the oldest shoots near the ground every few years.
Frequently asked
- When do you prune spirea?
- It depends on the group: spring bloomers such as bridal wreath spirea flower on last year's wood and are thinned straight after flowering. Summer bloomers such as Japanese spirea flower on new growth and take a hard cut of about half in early spring. Badly timed pruning is the most common reason for a missing bloom.
- Is spirea toxic to dogs and cats?
- No, Spiraea is considered non-toxic to dogs, cats and children and is unproblematic for family gardens. Since the plant contains small amounts of salicylates, pets still should not nibble on it regularly.
- Which spirea works as a low hedge?
- For low edgings up to about half a metre, Japanese spireas such as „Little Princess“ or „Anthony Waterer“ are ideal — they stay compact, flower all summer and take the annual cutback without complaint. For taller, free-growing flowering hedges up to two metres, bridal wreath and Vanhoutte spirea are the right choice.
- Is spirea bee-friendly?
- Yes, the summer-flowering Japanese spireas in particular are excellent nectar sources, heavily visited by bees, bumblebees and butterflies. Because they bloom in high summer, they fill a period when many gardens offer little forage. The spring bloomers are well visited too.