Spirea is one of the few ornamental shrubs that can grow and bloom profusely without requiring complicated care. Not many home plants have such qualities. It is very undemanding to the soil and also differs in frost resistance. It is for these qualities that spirea fell in love with gardeners and landscape designers.
Popular types and varieties
An important quality of this shrub is the diversity of species. They are different in height, appearance and color of inflorescences. There is a difference in care between them. Sometimes it is not easy to make a choice in favor of a particular variety, but first of all it is worth paying attention to the most popular varieties.
Spiraea in bloom
All types of spirea are divided into two groups according to flowering time:
- spring blooming;
- summer blooming.
The main distinguishing feature for these two groups is the color of inflorescences. Shrubs from the first group, as a rule, have a white or cream color of flowers. The second group during flowering is covered with inflorescences of pink and raspberry shades.
Spring blooming
Among the group of spring-flowering shrubs there are leaders. There are several of them, here are the most popular:
- Spirea Wangutta;
- Spiraea Dubravkolistnaya;
- Spirea Nippon;
- Spirea Thunberg;
- Spirea Medium.
Summer blooming
The group of summer blooming also has their own favorites. All of them have a pink color of inflorescences, but of a different shade. There are several species that gardeners are particularly fond of:
- Spirea loosestrife;
- White-flowered Spirea;
- Japanese Spirea;
- Spirea Douglas;
Among the common varieties there are those that cause controversy. For example, Kalinolistaya spiraea (Kalavinola meadowsweet) does not actually belong to this species. It would be more correct to call such a shrub Bubble Reaper.
A similar situation applies to the name Spirea Ryabinolistnaya. In fact, this is Ryabinnik. Both plants belong to the same family, but to different genera.
Crown shape
The shape of the crown of this plant also affects the variety, it can be:
- weeping;
- pyramidal;
- spherical;
- erect.
Almost all varieties are well amenable to formation, which allows the plant to be used as a hedge and in single plantings. To obtain a high green wall, the Slivolistny variety is suitable, it grows up to three meters in height.
Abundant flowering is also characteristic of all varieties. The differences are only in the color of the inflorescences, the period and duration of flowering.
Important! Early species bloom more abundantly, and later ones last longer.
Origin and diversity of species
Spirea belongs to the Rosaceae family. Its name comes from the Greek "speira" (spire), which means "bend". It is easy to guess that the name of the bush was due to the property of branches to bend, especially under the weight of inflorescences.
Under natural conditions, this shrub grows mainly on open elephants along the edges of forests. The area of its growth is wide. Spiraea can be found in the European part of Russia, the Far East and Central Asia. Also in the halo of its growth is Poland, Mongolia and the Balkans.
Apply this shrub in the landscaping of parks and gardens have become quite a long time. Even in the 16th century, Ivolistnaya spirea became popular, and in the 19th, Berezolistnaya became also a success.
The number of species of this ornamental plant is amazing - there are about 90 of them. Not all of them are widely known, but there are quite a few that are actively used in landscape design.
How to choose a grade
It is very easy to get confused when choosing a variety of spirea, given the number of species of this plant. It is important to consider several factors, which will be discussed later.
Features of growing in different regions
Some species of spirea are frost-resistant, and some varieties require shelter for the winter. The situation is the same with watering, the need for moisture is different for each variety. Depending on the climate in the region and the owner's ability to care for the shrub, you can give preference to one or another type of spirea.
Important! For Siberia and the Urals, it is better to choose the most frost-resistant varieties. For example, a variety called Gustotsvetkovy is suitable. For the winter it is better to cover it. So the probability that the right plant will survive will be greater.
In the southern regions with milder climates, more heat-loving varieties of this shrub can be grown. But do not forget about timely watering: the drier the summer, the plant will need more moisture.
In order to make the right choice, you need to pay attention to several more factors:
- Height. The size of the bush in height, depending on the variety, can range from 30 cm to 2.5 m. If there is enough free space on the site, you can choose tall varieties. In the event that the space is very limited, a stunted or even dwarf species is more suitable. The size of the plant in width should also be considered.
- Coloring flowers. When choosing colors for composition on the site, be sure to consider the compatibility of colors. If some flowering plants have already been planted, then when choosing a variety of spirea, you should focus on how the shade of its inflorescences will be in harmony with the rest of the flowers on the site. When designing a flower garden from scratch, you can immediately determine the overall color scheme and focus on it.
- Flowering period. As a rule, when choosing a plant for a flower arrangement, the goal is continuous flowering. Given the flowering time of the rest of the plant, you should choose either an early or late type of shrub.
- The purpose of landing. Ornamental shrub can be used both as a single planting, and for group, as well as to create a hedge. Depending on the desired result, you need to choose a variety.
Taking into account all these factors, it will be possible to make the most correct choice.
Where to plant spirea on the site
A place for planting spirea is better to choose a sunny and sheltered from the wind. It can also grow in partial shade and even in the shade, but this often negatively affects its flowering.
Attention! Spirea does not tolerate overmoistening of the root system. It can not be planted in places of close occurrence of groundwater. Stagnation of rain or melt water should also be avoided. The soil should be light and not hold water.
This ornamental shrub is actively used in landscape design. It is used in flower beds, mixborders, and also as a separate composition from different species of this plant. Due to the fact that the flowering periods of different species differ, you can create a composition of several species that will bloom continuously throughout the summer.
Spirea is also great for creating hedges. You can choose the desired height of the future green wall. This shrub tolerates a haircut easily, and is also characterized by rapid growth. The creation of such a hedge does not require special physical costs and the acquisition of special knowledge. Even beginner gardeners can do this.
Types of White Spirea
Early spirea is also called White Spirea due to the shade of inflorescences. There are a lot of species of this shrub, but some deserve special attention.
Wangutta
Inflorescences are white. The height of the bush is from 1.5 to 2 meters. Easy to cut. Often used to create hedges. One of the popular varieties is the white bride spiraea.
Wangutta
Nipponskaya
It has a spherical crown shape. It reaches a height of 1 meter. It blooms early, in the middle or end of May. The flowers are white.
Nipponskaya
Oak leaf
It has a well-developed root system, which allows it to actively grow. The height of the bush is an average of 1.5 meters. Inflorescences are white. Actively used in urban landscaping.
Oak leaf
Tunberg
A bush of medium height - 1-1.5 meters. Changing the color of leaves in the fall is a feature that this spirea possesses. Yellow foliage makes the bush even more spectacular during this period.
Tunberg
Gorodchataya
The flowers are collected in inflorescences and have a light cream color. Average height - up to 1 meter. The leaves have a ribbed (town) edge, which influenced the name of this species.
Gorodchataya
Gray
One of the highest representatives of her species, grows up to two meters in height. During the flowering period, it is covered with lush shield-shaped inflorescences of white color.
Gray
Argut
The shape of the crown is spreading. The size of the bush is quite large, reaches a height of 2 meters. Inflorescences are white and located along the entire length of the shoots.
Argutta
Average
One of the earliest flowering species - blooms in May. It has a rounded bush shape. In the spring it is covered with white corymbose inflorescences. During this period, it resembles a fountain of snow-white spray.
Types of Pink Spirea
The hue of the inflorescences of this plant, which appear in the summer, is usually pink, hence one of the names is pink spirea. Sometimes it can also be raspberry, there are species with white inflorescences.
Loosestrife
The name was given due to the similarity of leaves with the tree of the same name. Their color changes in the fall to bright red. Reaches a height of 2.5 meters.
Loosestrife
Japanese
The most popular variety. The height of the bush is small - only about 50 centimeters. Three-bladed leaf. The flowering period is long, lasts 1.5 - 2 months.
Picture 11 Japanese
White
One of the few species that blooms in summer, which has a white color of inflorescences. The height of the bush is about 1.5 meters. The flowering period begins in July and lasts until August.
White
Billard
Bred artificially by crossing Douglas spirea and loosestrife. Inflorescences are bright pink. The bush is quite high, about two meters.
Billard
Douglas
Inflorescences are pink panicles. The bush has an erect crown. It blooms from July to August.
Douglas
Bumalda
Spiraea spherical on a crown. The panicle flower, terry, has a crimson hue. Pretty popular look. The flowering period is almost two months.
Bumalda
Birch leaf
A low shrub (height of about 60 centimeters) with a spherical crown. The name was given for the shape of leaves resembling birch foliage. Inflorescences are white, sometimes with a pink tint. In autumn, the color of the foliage changes to golden.
Birch leaf
Spirea - Planting and Care
Spirea, the care of which is minimal, is quite simple to grow. Care consists of several key points:
- Watering. Depending on the climate and the amount of rainfall in the spring - summer period, it is necessary to water the bush either once or 2-3 times a month. Most species are drought tolerant.
- Top dressing. In spring, you need to make the norm of mineral fertilizers, in summer it is better to feed organic. As organics, you can use ordinary compost.
- Pruning. Spirea needs a regular haircut. Formation is carried out in three stages - in the spring, summer and autumn.
- Preventative treatment. Although this plant is highly resistant to disease, treatment with chemicals for prevention should be carried out regularly.
Attention! Mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen can be applied only in the spring. Such top dressing in the fall will provoke an undesirable shoot growth, which will negatively affect the wintering of the plant.
Get a new copy is also not difficult. Reproduction is best done by cuttings. The cuticle takes root over the summer and is ready for planting in the ground by autumn.
You can get a new plant using a seed that ripens after flowering. But this process is much more painstaking and laborious.
Spirea, the types and varieties of which are striking in variety, is very popular. You can use this plant both to decorate the site as a single planting, and to create a hedge. In any case, it will look spectacular.
This is one of the few flowering shrubs, the care of which is quite simple. It is enough to provide timely watering, pruning and regular fertilizing for full growth and flowering.
When choosing a variety, the climate features of the region in which the site is located should be taken into account. Depending on this, you need to choose what the variety should be. First of all, you need to find its description and familiarize yourself with it.
To grow this unpretentious and very decorative plant even a novice can do.
