Spiraea thunbergii
(Thunberg Spiraea)
Family - Rosaceae
Category - Shrub
Origin - China, Japan
Year of Introduction - 1863
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn
Hardiness - H6
Height - up to 1.5m
Width - up to 1.5m
Location - The Terrace
Description: A small to medium-sized Deciduous Shrub with a bushy, upright habit and slender, twiggy branches. Small pale to mid-green leaves are lanceolate in shape with finely toothed margins. Small saucer-shaped flowers are snow white with yellow centres. The Blooms are held in clusters along the branches and are produced in profusion from early to mid-spring. The leaves turn orange and scarlet in autumn before dropping.
Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Named in honour of Carl Peter Thunberg (1743 - 1828), a Swedish naturalist and plant explorer.
Flower:
Small saucer-shaped flowers are snow-white with yellow centres. The blooms are held in dense clusters all along the arching branches and are produced in abundance in March and April.
Flower colour: White
Flower shape: Saucer-shaped flowers in clusters
Flowering time: March, April
Foliage:
Small pale to mid-green leaves are lanceolate in shape and have serrate margins. The leaves are Alternately arranged on the angular, arching branches. The leaves turn vibrant shades of orange and scarlet in autumn before dropping.
Foliage Senescence: Deciduous
Foliage Shape: Lanceolate
Autumn Colour: Orange, scarlet
Propagation:
Cuttings.
Cultivation:
Best in full sun to partial shade in fertile, moisture retentive soil that is well drained.