How to Grow Spirea Shrubs

The spirea shrub does best when planted in full sun or light shade. Planting the shrub in full shade results in stunted growth, and a reduction in the number and size of blooms. Position your spirea in an area with well-drained soil, as they do not like wet feet.

How do you take care of spirea bushes?
Should spirea be cut back in the fall?
How do you plant spirea bushes?
How fast does spirea grow?
Do you deadhead spirea bushes?
Can I cut spirea to the ground?
How far back can you trim spirea?
What can I plant next to spirea?
Does spirea bloom on old wood?
Does spirea need full sun?
Is spirea annual or perennial?
Is spirea a good foundation plant?

How do you take care of spirea bushes?

Keep newly planted spireas well-watered until they become established. Mature spireas are drought tolerant and only need watering when the soil becomes dry. Spireas don't like wet feet, so avoid oversaturating the soil.

Should spirea be cut back in the fall?

More drastically cutting back spirea should occur in the fall or in late winter to early spring. Remove any dead branches and use this trimming to shape the shrub. Cutting it way back will stimulate new growth in tighter clusters so that you can get a more rounded, compact shrub shape.

How do you plant spirea bushes?

Purchase plants from your local garden center and plant from spring to early fall in full sun in well-drained soil. Spireas aren't picky about the type of soil as long as it's well drained. Space plants 3 to 6 feet apart. Keep young plants well watered.

How fast does spirea grow?

How big do spirea bushes get? Mature size ranges from 2-10 feet tall and wide. This fast grower can add up to 2 feet of new growth in a single season. Plants can be kept smaller with pruning.

Do you deadhead spirea bushes?

Deadheading: This is merely the practice of clipping off old flowers to stimulate the growth of new foliage and blossoms. ... Pink flowering spirea should also be deadheaded. You can cut off old flowers using a pruners, hedge shears or an electric shearing tool.

Can I cut spirea to the ground?

The spirea species (Spiraea spp.) ... To control the spirea's size and keep it blooming year after year, you should prune it back after blooming or when it's dormant in winter. If it's severely overgrown, cut it to the ground to rejuvenate the shrub.

How far back can you trim spirea?

Trim back overgrown spireas or those that produced sparse foliage on the lower stems severely in fall after the foliage begins to fall off, to keep the shrubs shaped and compact. Cut back each stem to within 8 to 12 inches of the ground.

What can I plant next to spirea?

They look especially good paired with bigleaf hydrangeas. Or set them near clumps of hostas that will take some sun. Since spirea blossoms are mainly flat clusters, contrast the flower shapes you plant nearby. Narrow purple spikes of salvia or upright plumes of astilbe add nice variety.

Does spirea bloom on old wood?

Bud Development

Spring-bloom spirea produce buds the year before they bloom, which means they blossom on old growth. These buds begin to set the autumn before they open. Meanwhile, summer-blooming types blossom on new growth, since they develop buds in the spring just a season before they open.

Does spirea need full sun?

Spireas (Spiraea species) are among the easiest flowering shrubs to grow. These attractive shrubs are fast growing and should be grown in full sun for best flowering. They can, however, tolerate partial shade. Some are spring bloomers; whereas others bloom in the summer.

Is spirea annual or perennial?

Spireas are small to medium sized deciduous shrubs that produce cascades of flowers in spring and summer. Among the easiest flowering shrubs to grow, spireas are often used in foundation plantings, as hedges, and in perennial gardens. Most spireas bloom in late spring to midsummer.

Is spirea a good foundation plant?

Hardy in Zones 3 to 8, they're deer resistant and attract butterflies. Japanese spirea make a reliable foundation or specimen plant, and are attractive in beds, large containers, mixed-shrub landscapes, as a low border or hedge, and when planted in groups.