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Spirea
Spiraea
Spirea blooms from May through July.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Spirea
Plant it in full sun. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 4–8. Expect it to reach about 3.3 ft tall and 3.9 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 3 years.
When to plant Spirea
Plant Spirea in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in early fall at least six weeks before your first frost, so roots establish in cool weather. For the middle of its hardy zones 4 to 8 range, spring means March to May and fall means August or September. Once settled, it blooms from May to July.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 6 in March.
Comes in 10 varieties across 3 colors
Same plant, same care - pick the color you are growing.
Good to know about Spirea
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Worth knowing
Shearing spent flowers after the first summer flush does double duty: it triggers a second bloom and, in the eastern US, removes the seed that drives its invasiveness. per Wisconsin and Penn State
Pruning depends on the type
Summer-blooming Japanese types flower on new wood: cut them back hard in late winter. Spring-blooming bridal-wreath types flower on old wood: prune only right after flowering. per NC State and Wisconsin
Invasive in the eastern US
Introduced from Japan and China around 1879, it has escaped gardens across the eastern US, spreading by abundant seed and suckering stems to form thickets that crowd out native plants. per NC State and Penn State
Even cultivars set viable seed
Penn State warns that popular cultivars like 'Little Princess' and 'Anthony Waterer' still make numerous viable seeds, so cultivar status is no safeguard where spirea is invasive. per Penn State
Steady water fights spider mites
Spider mites explode on hot, dry, water-stressed plants, so consistent summer watering is the front-line defense. Let the shrub run dry and you invite the worst pest it gets. per UC IPM and Kentucky
Draws pollinators, resists deer
The flat flower clusters draw butterflies and other pollinators, and the plant hosts several moth caterpillars. It is also noted as deer- and rabbit-resistant, though its pollinator value is moderate. per NC State
What pairs well with Spirea
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Goldenrod
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in late summer as this one finishes; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Autumn Joy Sedum
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in late summer as this one finishes; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Perennial Sunflower
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in late summer as this one finishes; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Hyacinth
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; lower at 10 in, for the front of the border; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Autumn Crocus
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in early fall, extending the bed's season; low at 6 in, to carpet the ground beneath; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Grape Hyacinth
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; lower at 8 in, for the front of the border; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Eastern Redbud
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; stands well above at 23 ft, a canopy to plant beneath.
Sweet Alyssum
Shares full sun and moderate water; low at 5 in, to carpet the ground beneath; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; both offer pollinator forage.
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Drop this plant onto a 3D plan, see how it fills in, and watch your whole garden bloom across the year.