Japanese spirea shrub or “Bride” - description

Origin

Spiraea, also known as meadowsweet, belongs to the Rosaceae family and is an ornamental shrub. The plant is distinguished by the flexibility of its stems, for which it received its name - “speira” translated from ancient Greek means “bend”. The genus includes about a hundred species of spirea, growing in forest-steppe, steppe zones and even in semi-deserts. It is not for nothing that meadowsweet is considered a very unpretentious plant.

Spiraea in bloom

The name “meadowsweet” was much more common in ancient times than spirea. Under this name, the shrub is mentioned in the epic “Sadko” and in the works of V.I. Dahl, who reported that the stems of the plant, due to their strength, are used to make ramrods and whips.

The spirea bush also has a name - bride. It refers to varieties with white flowers. The same plant has variant names “spray bush” and “spirea bush”.

Appearance of the plant

The external features of the spirea shrub depend on the specific species. For example, the height of the stems varies from 15 cm to 2.5 m. The stems of meadowsweet can be either erect or creeping, from light to dark brown in color. The bark may peel off longitudinally.

Japanese and gray spirea - description, planting and care

The root system is fibrous and is usually located shallow.

Spiraea leaves are petiolate, alternately arranged, three- or five-lobed. The shape of the plates is lanceolate or round.

The inflorescences are spike-shaped, corymbose, pyramidal or paniculate, consisting of many small flowers. They are located, depending on the type, along the edges, in the middle or entirely along the branches. The color of the flowers ranges from deep burgundy to pure white.

Note! As an ornamental plant, spirea is universal - it looks great both alone and as an element of a hedge or flower bed.

Options for using spirea in landscape design

Landscape designers advise using Vangutta in three variants , which allow this beautifully flowering plant to look most impressive:

• near artificial reservoirs (in this case, the spirea becomes a kind of analogue of the weeping willow, only decorated with a cascade of flowers);
• as a hedge;
• in the middle of a flower bed or lawn.

Of course, these are just some of the ways to decorate a site. By showing your imagination, you can create your own original composition.

Spring-blooming spirea

Japanese quince shrub - description of the plant and fruits

Shrub species that open their flowers in spring are heavily bushy. Inflorescences appear only on second-year branches. The petals of spring spirea are distinguished by their delicate colors. Gardeners love these varieties of meadowsweet for their early flowering.

Spiraea Wangutta

A hybrid obtained by crossing Cantonese and three-lobed spirea. Blooms at the very beginning of summer. Hemispherical inflorescences are located throughout the branch; they consist of small (about 6 mm) white flowers.

The bush itself is quite tall - up to 2 m. The branches are drooping, dotted with three-lobed, serrated bare leaves. The plates are dark green on top and bluish on the bottom. In autumn they acquire a wonderful orange color.

Spiraea Wangutta

For its delicate coloring and graceful curves, this plant is often called the “bride bush.” However, this name is also extended to other species and varieties of spirea that have white or light-colored flowers.

Spiraea oakleaf

A tall (up to 2 m) variety of spirea, with gracefully bending branches, strewn with white inflorescences during flowering.

This shrub is also called the bride; the plant fully lives up to its popular name, not only with its beauty, but also with its splendor. Due to its spreading branches, it requires quite a lot of space.

oakleaf meadowsweet

Spiraea nipponensis

This spirea is called Nippon, that is, Japanese, because of its place of origin - the island of Honshu. The shrub is quite tall, up to 180 cm, dense branches are located horizontally. Green leaves, up to 4.5 cm long, do not change their color until late autumn.

The inflorescences are corymbose, dense, and consist of greenish-yellow flowers, while the unopened buds are pink. Nippon spirea blooms from the first days of June to mid-summer.

Nippon spirea

Spiraea thunberg

This is an elegant shrub up to 1.8 m tall, with small dark green leaves that turn orange-red in autumn. The inflorescences are umbellate, located along the entire length of the branches. The flowers are small, snow-white, shaped like stars.

Thunberg's meadowsweet

Spiraea crenate

A low shrub (about 1 m) with white flowers collected in corymbose inflorescences. The leaves are dark green, with three prominent veins. Flowering duration is approximately 20 days. Frost-resistant, tolerates shading well, but produces more inflorescences in sunny places.

Crenate variety of bride

Spiraea gray

An interesting hybrid, the result of crossing St. John's leaf and whitish-gray spirea. The height of the bush is about 180 cm. The branches are drooping, with greenish-gray (bluish below) lanceolate leaves. The gray spirea shrub got its name from their color. Blooms from the second decade of May to mid-June.

Gray spirea

The flowers are bright white, collected in corymbose inflorescences located along the entire length of the branches.

Summer-blooming spirea

Spiraea - species and varieties with white and pink flowers

Spireas, which bloom in summer, have one peculiarity: flowers appear on young shoots, while old ones dry out over time. Among the variety of species, Japanese spirea stands out especially, the varieties of which have gained particular popularity among gardeners.

Spiraea looseleaf

Tall (up to 2 m) shrub with straight brownish-brown shoots. The leaves are pointed, about 10 cm long. The inflorescences are paniculate-pyramidal, up to 20 cm in length, consisting of whitish or pink small flowers.

Meadowsweet

Spiraea white-flowered

A fairly tall shrub (up to 1.5 m) with fragrant white flowers. Pleases with flowering from mid-summer. One of the few types of summer-flowering spirea with white petals.

White-flowered bride

Spiraea japonica

The Japanese spirea shrub has a height of 100 to 150 cm. The shoots appear pubescent, but as they grow, they become bare. The leaves are ovate, oblong, green on top and bluish on the underside. Corymbose-paniculate inflorescences are formed along the edges of the branches and consist of small purple flowers.

Japanese spirea usually blooms in July.

Japanese meadowsweet

Many people confuse the name of spirea, mistakenly calling it Chinese. It is worth remembering that the birthplace of this shrub is Japan.

Spiraea douglas

Shrub, up to one and a half meters high, with red-brown shoots pubescent on top. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate, from 3 to 10 cm in length. The inflorescences of Douglas spirea are paniculate-pyramidal, collected from dark pink flowers.

Spiraea douglas

The beauty of the inflorescences can be enjoyed from June to mid-July and early August.

Spiraea Boumalda

This is a miniature (about 50 cm) hybrid of Japanese and white-flowered meadowsweet. The stems are erect, dotted with green leaves, which become brightly colored in autumn. Blooms from July to late August.

Meadowsweet Boumalda

The petals can be colored in tones from soft pink to red, depending on the variety.

Spiraea Billarda

A hybrid from crossing Douglas spirea and willow spirea. It can reach a height of 2 m. The leaf blades are broadly lanceolate in shape, about 10 cm long. Narrow pyramidal paniculate inflorescences, collected from bright pink flowers, can reach a length of 20 cm.

Spiraea Billarda

The shrub blooms from the second half of July.

Replanting in the ground after purchase

Spiraea can be planted both in spring and autumn, and in spring only summer-flowering varieties of shrubs are planted. It is very important to have time to plant the bride before the buds bloom on the shoots.

When purchasing seedlings in a store, you need to inspect the roots and shoots. If they are strong enough and not damaged, you can safely plant shrubs on the site.

In autumn, spirea is planted before the end of leaf fall. For planting, they usually take bushes that are 3-4 years old. They are optimal for dividing.

What you will need

To plant spirea you will need:

• Scissors for cutting off excess roots;
• Shovel;
• Drainage (for example, broken brick);
• soil mixture;
• Water for irrigation;
• Peat;
• Secateurs.

Important! In autumn, you can plant both spring-flowering and summer-flowering spirea.

Optimal place

Despite the general unpretentiousness of the shrub, it is advisable to choose a well-lit, spacious place for it with soil rich in nutrients.

If the choice is small, meadowsweet can also be planted on a rocky area, in partial shade near a fence, gate or next to other shrubs.

Worth remembering! The more spacious and lighter the plant, the more magnificent and longer it will bloom.

Planting process

Spring planting of the bride bush step by step:

1. A hole is prepared on the site, the volume of which is about a third larger than the volume of the root system of the seedling. It is advisable to do this a couple of days before the planned planting.
2. Before planting, the seedling is placed in a bucket with a small amount of water.
3. Drainage is laid out at the bottom of the hole, in a layer of about 20 cm.
4. Combine 2 parts of leaf soil with 1 part sand and 1 part peat. Pour the resulting mixture into the bottom of the hole.
5. Place the seedling in the hole and carefully straighten the roots. Cover them with soil, gently compacting them with your hands. The root collar should be flush with the soil surface.
6. Water the seedling with water (this will take 18-20 liters) and mulch the tree trunk circle with peat.

Planting in spring

Autumn planting of spirea in stages:

1. Dig a three or four year old bush out of the ground.
2. Wash the root system in running water.
3. Using pruning shears, divide the bush into 3 parts.
4. Prepare planting holes.
5. Place drainage at the bottom and add soil mixture.
6. Plant the plants, carefully cover the roots with soil and compact them.
7. Water the plantings generously.

Important! It is best to choose a cloudy day for planting.

Landing

The most favorable time would be to plant in September in cloudy or even rainy weather , while the soil is saturated with moisture, and also before the leaves begin to fall. Preferably light, fertile, well-drained soils with a pH level not higher than 7, then plant care is reduced to a minimum.

If the soil does not meet the requirements, its composition can be adjusted:

1. Soak heavy soils with ash (1 cup per 1 sq. m.).
2. Depleted - saturate by mixing humus, fertilizers and peat (fertilizers to water should be in a ratio of one to two).
3. High acidity - can be reduced with lime or dolomite flour (300 g per 1 sq. m.).

The place chosen is sunny and, most importantly, with deep groundwater . Despite the fact that spirea love moisture, there should be no water near the roots when planting. Therefore, drainage (gravel or crushed stone) is poured into a spacious hole 50x50 cm in a layer of 10–15 centimeters. The top is covered with soil and the seedling is placed on it, while evenly leveling the roots. Carefully pour 2 buckets of water into the hole and distribute the remaining soil, pre-mixed with a substrate consisting of peat and a turf-leaf mixture. The root collar is not deepened, but left 1 cm above the surface. The trunk is covered with mulch to avoid moisture evaporation. Already in the third year the bush will begin to bloom .

Selection of planting material

Seedlings must be healthy, young and compact, without open buds . The roots should be flexible, without visual damage or blackening, and well branched. The shoots of the seedling are flexible, green, without cracks and with healthy buds.

If the root does not have a sufficient number of branches, it must be soaked for a day in any root-forming solution. Planting material should not have rotten areas, diseases or damage by pests.

Preparing the landing site

As with most flowering shrubs, an important criterion for spirea to bloom is a large amount of sunlight throughout the day. The shrub can also grow in a shaded place, but the growth of shoots will be slowed down, which will negatively affect its ability to reproduce and decorative functions . Over time, the plant will grow significantly, so the diameter around the planting site of one bush should be at least 3 m. If we are talking about group planting, then the distance between the bushes reaches at least 1.5 m.

Caring for the plant will not cause any particular difficulties: spirea is a simple, unpretentious plant. However, in order for the shrub to show itself in all its glory and show all its decorative capabilities, it is necessary to care for it, adhering to the basic rules.

Reproduction of spirea

It is best to propagate spirea by cuttings, since hybrid varieties do not retain their characteristics when propagated by seed.

Cuttings

Spring-flowering plants are cut in early June, summer-flowering plants - in July. It is best to root cuttings in September-October.

Cuttings of spirea:

1. Cut the one-year-old straight stem and divide it into pieces, so that each leaves 5-6 leaves.
2. Remove the lower leaves along with the cuttings, shorten the upper ones by half.
3. Place the cuttings in Epin solution for 12 hours.
4. Dip the lower node into Kornevin's solution and plant the cutting in a container with moistened sand so that it is inclined at an angle of 30-45°.
5. Cover the container with film or glass and put it in a dark place.
6. Spray twice every day with a spray bottle, making sure that the sand remains moist.

After the onset of frost, the cuttings are buried in the area, covered with leaves and an inverted box is placed on top. They are left in this position until spring.

Bride's Bush Seeds

When new shoots appear on the plants, you can replant them in a permanent place.

Seeds

In the summer, unopened but already drying seed pods are collected from spirea species. The fruits are sent to ripen for a couple of weeks in a dry place (for example, in an open box).

After the specified time, the spilled seeds are collected and stored in a fabric bag until spring.

In April, the seeds are sown in a box with soil, sprayed with a spray bottle and, covered with glass, the container is sent outside. It is necessary to ensure that the soil does not dry out, but that there is no stagnation of moisture. When shoots appear, the glass can be removed.

When they reach a height of 2 cm, the seedlings are picked, selecting the strongest ones, and planted in a box, at a distance of 5-6 cm from each other. In autumn they can be planted in permanent places.

Important! Spiraea, obtained from seeds at home, begins to bloom already in the 3rd year of growth.

Proper care is the key to beauty and abundant flowering

Spirea is quite undemanding in care. For good lush flowering and normal growth, the shrub needs a lot of sunlight, fertile soil and watering. Sheltering spirea for the winter is not always required, only in northern regions with a harsh cold climate and for young plants planted in the fall.

Spiraea planted in spring should be well watered, especially in the southern regions, in the Kuban, where spring and summer can be quite hot. In summer, pay special attention to watering; make sure that the soil in the tree trunk circle does not turn into an earthen crust; this is important for recently planted spirea plants.

The tree trunk space can be mulched with peat to create an optimal microclimate and retain moisture. Instead of peat, you can use humus, which will retain moisture and be a good fertilizer that nourishes the spirea.

in the photo - spirea

Spirea needs to be fertilized only when necessary; the shrub grows well without fertilizing. Typically, food is given in early spring using mineral fertilizer containing nitrogen. In the fall, only phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are applied so that the plant gains strength for wintering. Nitrogen fertilizers and mullein should not be applied starting from August, so as not to cause the growth of young shoots.

When caring for spirea, many gardeners prune not only to give it an aesthetic appearance, but also for the purpose of sanitation, removing weakened, dry, broken branches. Although the plant is rarely affected by pests or more, sanitary measures once a year are necessary. Spirea pruning is carried out in autumn or spring. It is advisable to trim mature powerful bushes in the autumn so that the flowering in the spring is more abundant. Young seedlings, as a rule, do not need to be pruned in winter; it is better to do this in the spring, when it is clear that the plant has overwintered (frozen shoots are removed).

Reproduction of spirea is quite easy; it can be propagated by cuttings, layering or seeds (with the exception of hybrid varieties). If you decide to grow spirea from seeds, then take regular varieties (not hybrids). You will need a container, box, or other container in which the peat is placed and well moistened. The seeds are sown, covered with film, and planted in a warm place. When the seedlings grow a little, pick them. Plant in open ground when the threat of frost has passed, mulch and monitor watering. Spiraea grown from seeds will begin to bloom no earlier than after 2-3 years.

Spiraea can be propagated by cuttings that are green or lignified. Cuttings are carried out in June. Take a good pruning shears with a sharp blade and cut off the young shoots at the base (in the root zone). You can leave the leaves and scratch the bark with pruning shears, so the formation of roots will begin faster. The cuttings are buried in the ground until the leaves begin to grow, and be sure to water them.

Reproduction by layering is carried out in the spring with the appearance of the first leaves. A healthy young and flexible shoot you like is bent to the ground, secured with iron brackets and covered with earth, and watered regularly. Dividing the spirea bush should be done with a sharp shovel in early spring, carefully cutting off the necessary part, which then needs to be transplanted to a new place.

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Plant care

Light-loving spirea loves loose, nutritious soils. However, the plant is unpretentious in care and does not show any special “whims”.

Watering

Water the bush in dry times once a week for 14 days, 1.5 buckets of water per bush. In rainy weather, watering is reduced.

Top dressing

Spirea is fed with complex mineral fertilizer in the spring. In summer, the bush is fertilized with a solution of mullein with the addition of 10 g of superphosphate per bucket of liquid.

Rest period

When the bush fades and autumn arrives, it’s time to start pruning. Old bushes are pruned, leaving stumps with 2-3 buds. On young shrubs, thickening the crown or diseased shoots are removed.

Plant pruning diagram

The soil at the roots is carefully loosened and fertilized if necessary. Any composition is suitable, except those containing nitrogen and mullein. The ground under the bush is watered abundantly.

Preparing for winter

The roots of spirea can withstand the cold well, so it can winter without shelter. However, if too severe frosts are expected, the plant is sprinkled with dry foliage for the winter, in a layer of up to 15-20 cm.

Spirea is an excellent choice for beginners, because this shrub does not require complex care. But you can admire the flowering of this elegant plant for a long time. There will also be no problems with propagation and rooting, so spirea can be generously shared with neighbors.

Plant diseases and pests

Vangutta has good resistance to diseases and pests. But with high humidity and improper care, pests such as:

• meadowsweet sawfly;
• aphid;
• kidney calla;
• spider mite

At the first signs of the appearance of these parasites, it is necessary to remove the affected parts of the plant to prevent the spread of “uninvited guests”. After this, the bush is treated with special insecticides. They are effective against pests, so spirea quickly recovers from pest infestation if they are destroyed in a timely manner.