Spiraea betulifolia ‘Tor Gold’
Spiraeas are common garden plants , especially the forms of S. japonica. There seem to be new names every year, nearly all subtle variations on the established ‘Goldflame’ theme that only the breeders could possibly distinguish. ‘Goldflame’ is a good thing and seems to have it all: brilliant new foliage and attractive deep rose flowers, though the combination may not be to everyone’s taste (I question it sometimes). It is a bit like the fad for fusion foods and flavoured coffee: if coffee is nice and raspberries are nice and chocolate is nice then a coffee with raspberry syrup and chocolate sprinkles must be even nicer. Well, er, no. We need to show some restraint.
Spiraea betulifolia is a nice shrub with rounded leaves and fiery autumn colour. The domed clusters of round, white flowers dot the arching branches and are produced after most white, spring spiraeas are over and before summer-flowering S. japonica. It was introduced from Asia in 1812. It is usually grown as ‘Tor’, which is more compact, forming a bush up to 1m high and wide. In 2006 a branch sport with yellow leaves was discovered on a plant by Ton Stolwijk, in Hazerwoude-Dorp, Netherlands and named ‘Tor Gold’ (Glow Girl). It is slightly smaller in habit with more slender growth and slightly smaller flower clusters but still blooms prolifically and has similar fiery autumn colour. It is said not to scorch in sun.
My plant is in full sun and although it was quite golden at first the leaves are becoming more lime than yellow. I like the neat habit but it is in danger of making the lemon-meringue garden into a key-lime-pie garden.
Elsewhere in these borders yellow and white dominates with iris, potentillas and violas.
The Biking Gardener 
That is one exotic looking iris!
Thank you. I was going to post a few bearded iris pics but i thought everyone would be bored with them but perhaps I will. They are looking so good at the moment in the dry weather. It s not often they coincide with nice weather!
I would love that, and some tips on growing them please?
well I have posted some more today. And I will do some tips in a few weeks, as requested.
Lovely, looking forward to it…