Japanese Spirea
A Popular Flowering Shrub with a Long Season of Bloom
Spirea japonica, also known as Japanese spirea or Japanese meadowsweet, is a charming plant known for its delicate, cascading clusters of pink or white flowers. This ornamental deciduous shrub is a popular choice among gardeners for its aesthetic appeal and easy maintenance, and many different cultivars are readily available at garden centers and big box stores.
Japanese spirea is native to eastern Asia and was introduced to North America as an ornamental plant in the mid-19th century. It typically reaches a height of 2 to 6 feet, depending on the cultivar, and features graceful arching branches covered in serrated, lance-shaped leaves. The flowers bloom from late spring through summer, forming dense clusters that adorn the shrub with colors ranging from bright white to deep pink and crimson.
Due to its adaptability, ease of cultivation, and attractive appearance, Japanese spirea has become a staple in gardens, parks, and landscapes across the United States. It thrives in full sun, in a wide range of soil conditions, and is an easy to grow, low-maintenance choice for many gardeners. Japanese spirea is extremely cold hardy and heat tolerant, growing in zones 3-8, and attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Is Japanese Spirea Invasive?
While Japanese spirea’s ornamental qualities make it a beloved garden addition, its invasive nature has raised concerns among environmentalists and conservationists. The plant's prolific seed production enables it to spread rapidly from yards, gardens, and landscaped areas into natural terrain, where it outcompetes native vegetation. If you would like to keep invasives out of your garden, a great alternative to Japanese spirea is Summersweet Clethra (Clethra alnifolia) - read more here.
The lacy, flat-topped flowers of Japanese spirea (Spirea japonica).
Popular Japanese Spirea Cultivars
Double Play® Candy Corn (Spiraea japonica 'NCSX1') has bright foliage in shades of red, yellow and orange, with vivid purple-red blooms. A low-growing 18-24 inches tall, it makes a great mass planting, low hedge, or filler for the front of the border.
Double Play® Dolly (Spiraea japonica 'SMNSJSA') is a newer cultivar with purple flowers, yellow foliage and a compact habit. Grows 1.5-2.5 feet high and wide, making it a great choice for small gardens and containers.
Double Play® Gold (Spirea japonica ‘Yan’) offers stunning golden foliage and hot pink flowers, maintaining a compact 2-3 foot size.
Double Play® Pink (Spirea japonica ‘SMNSJMFP’) has intense, deep pink flowers and rich foliage that emerges dark red in springtime, turning deep green as the season progresses. Maintains a dense mound 2-3 feet in height and width.
‘Little Princess’ (Spiraea japonica 'Little Princess') - as the name suggests, this cultivar is known for its diminutive size (2 feet in height), compact shape, and clusters of delicate pink flowers. An ideal choice for edging, foundations, and low hedges.
Magic Carpet™ (Spiraea japonica 'Walbuma') - ‘Magic Carpet’ boasts vibrant gold foliage and bright pink flowers that add a burst of color to the garden, with foliage turning red in autumn. It grows up to 2 feet tall, and works well in containers, borders, or rock gardens.
‘Neon Flash’ (Spiraea japonica 'Neon Flash') has bright red-pink flowers and deep green foliage that turns red in autumn, growing to 3 feet tall and wide.
‘Shirobana’ (Spiraea japonica 'Shirobana') offers a unique twist with clusters of flowers that display various shades of white, pink, and light red on the same shrub. It grows to a mature size of 2-3 feet tall and wide.