Japanese Spiraea
Spiraea japonica
Also known as Japanese Spirea, Japanese Meadowsweet
Climate Match for your location
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A deciduous ornamental shrub valued for its delicate pink or white flower clusters and attractive foliage that often displays colorful spring and summer tones. Hardy and low-maintenance, it's useful in perennial borders, mass plantings, and pollinator gardens.
Why grow it
Japanese spiraea offers reliable summer color and fine texture in a compact deciduous shrub, flowering later than many spring-blooming spiraeas and thus extending the seasonal interest of mixed borders. It tolerates a wider range of soil conditions than some ornamental shrubs and requires minimal pruning, making it practical for low-input landscapes where consistent summer bloom is desired.
Watch out for
This species can spread via self-seeding in favorable conditions, so deadheading spent flowers or monitoring for volunteer seedlings may be necessary to prevent unwanted spread beyond intended planting zones. It prefers consistent moisture during establishment and can show stress (leaf scorch or reduced flowering) in drought conditions without supplemental watering during dry summers.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native Range
Japan, China
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Notable Cultivars
Goldflame features vibrant orange-gold new growth maturing to yellow-green; Little Princess is a compact dwarf form; Magic Carpet has striking red-tipped new foliage. All are prized for ornamental foliage and continuous summer blooms.
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A deciduous ornamental shrub valued for its delicate pink or white flower clusters and attractive foliage that often displays colorful spring and summer tones. Hardy and low-maintenance, it's useful in perennial borders, mass plantings, and pollinator gardens.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Japanese Spiraea grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Japanese spiraea offers reliable summer color and fine texture in a compact deciduous shrub, flowering later than many spring-blooming spiraeas and thus extending the seasonal interest of mixed borders. It tolerates a wider range of soil conditions than some ornamental shrubs and requires minimal pruning, making it practical for low-input landscapes where consistent summer bloom is desired.
Watch out for
This species can spread via self-seeding in favorable conditions, so deadheading spent flowers or monitoring for volunteer seedlings may be necessary to prevent unwanted spread beyond intended planting zones. It prefers consistent moisture during establishment and can show stress (leaf scorch or reduced flowering) in drought conditions without supplemental watering during dry summers.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native Range
Japan, China
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar shrubs you might consider:
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Companion Planting
Plants well with
Notable Cultivars
Goldflame features vibrant orange-gold new growth maturing to yellow-green; Little Princess is a compact dwarf form; Magic Carpet has striking red-tipped new foliage. All are prized for ornamental foliage and continuous summer blooms.