How to Grow and Care for Bridalwreath Spirea Spiraea prunifolia, S. x vanhouttei, S. cantoniensis
30.09.2023 - 18:47 / gardenerspath.com / Tabitha Caswell
How to Grow and Care for Japanese Spirea Spiraea japonica
As an urban farmer, I tend to give most of my attention to food-producing plants. I have little time and energy to devote to my ornamentals and I’ll admit that the poor things often suffer from borderline neglect.
For this reason, I choose my ornamental plants carefully. They need to pass the “Tabitha test.” This means they absolutely must be low maintenance.
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The resilient Japanese spirea is one of my go-to shrubs for when my garden design whims get the best of me. You see, I have this unfortunate habit, some might call it a gardening quirk, of constantly rearranging my plants.
It’s like a game of musical chairs, but for shrubs. And Japanese spireas are never sore losers. They’re tough, resilient, and easy to care for. Even through all the digging up and replanting, my Japanese spirea shrubs never hold a grudge.
If you’re looking for a plant that’s as forgiving as it is beautiful, you’ve come to the right place.
This species belongs to the large Spiraea genus and you can read more about them in our comprehensive growing guide. Here I’ll be focusing solely on how to grow Spiraea japonica.
Buckle up, fellow garden enthusiasts; we’re about to dive into the wonderfully adaptable world of Japanese spirea!
Here’s what I’ll cover:
Ready to learn all about this shrub? Let’s go!
What Is Japanese Spirea?Japanese spirea, S. japonica, is a flowering deciduous shrub. Native to Japan and China, this plant has made itself at home and become a garden favorite here in the United States and Canada.
It’s a member of the Spiraea genus within the Rosaceae family. This
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