

While there are loads of spirea options available, the main species you’ll most commonly find for sale include:
- Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica): low-growing, mounding form that’s known for wide flowers and a vast range of foliage colors.
- Bumalda spirea (Spiraea x bumalda): similar to Japanese spirea, it’s a cross between Spiraea albiflora and Spiraea japonica, with flower colors ranging from white to deep pink.
- Birchleaf spirea (Spiraea betulifolia): larger, blue-green, birch-like leaves turn stunning colors in the fall garden.
- Korean spirea (Spiraea fritschinana): grows beautifully in forests, slopes, and rocky areas.
- Nippon spirea (Spiraea nipponica): commonly known as snowmound spirea, this relatively smaller, upright, mounded shrub blooms in late spring with a show of clustered, small, white flowers, followed by deep blue-green leaves.
- Vanhoutte, commonly known as bridal wreath spirea (Spiraea x vanhouttai): known for flowing, arching branches filled with cascading, showy spring blooms and a vase-shaped habit.
If you haven’t grown spirea, here are the top 11 reasons why you need it in your garden.
1. Create Three Seasons of Garden Interest with Spireas
2. Relish a Low-Maintenance but High-Impact Garden Addition
3. Feed the Bees (and Butterflies, Hummingbirds, and Other Buzzy-Friends)
4. Fill Garden Spaces Fast with Spireas
5. Focus on Spirea Foliage
6. Create Garden-to-Vase Bouquets with Spirea Blooms
7. Grow Where the Growing Is Tough
- Does your garden sport poor soil?
- Do you live in a hot, humid climate?
- Do you have steep slopes, creating areas where erosion is the predominant, unwanted focal point?
Spirea to the Rescue!
- Bad soil? No problem!
- Urban setting filled with pollution? That’s OK, too.
- Grow in your zone? Many cultivars survive in USDA zones ranging from 3 to 9—a big divergence in temperature.
- Part sun location? Spirea even will grow in part-sun, but for the best blooms, full sun is key.
There’s a reason spirea is favored by many landscapers: this highly versatile shrub looks great and grows well just about anywhere.
8. Select a Spirea for Any Space
With so many spirea varieties, you’ll find the perfect one to suit your space.
9. Survive Dry Summers with Drought-Tolerant Spirea

While spirea is a drought-tolerant shrub, make sure to keep newly-planted spirea watered during the first year.
Even if a plant is known as drought-tolerant, all newly planted shrubs need supplemental water until their roots become well established.
10. Enjoy Disease-Resistant Spirea for an Easy, Pretty Garden
But then there’s spirea: beautiful, healthy, low-maintenance favorite flower-child of the garden.
Most spirea stays healthy throughout the season and avoids many of the diseases their rose cousins contract. And while they are easy keepers, it’s still good to provide plenty of air circulation around the shrubs, avoid overhead watering, and check periodically for aphids, which can spread disease.
But for the most part, spirea avoids major diseases and pests, giving you more time to enjoy your garden.

While spirea is a disease and pest resistant, it’s always important to follow good hygiene practices in the garden.
Use clean pruners, remove fallen foliage around the plant, space plants well when planting to provide good air circulation, and check often for signs of pests or diseases to address them early, in case there’s an issue.

11. Feed the Pollinators, Not the Deer
Are you ready to celebrate the Year of the Spirea in your garden? Take the plunge: pick your favorite varieties to create a gorgeous, three-season show in your garden.

Do you know that National Garden Bureau members include the most innovative breeders and distributors of spirea cultivars?
Whether you want a large focal point for the landscape, a beautiful shrub with three seasons of interest for a bed, a small, compact variety for a container or small space, or a beautiful, blooming hedge, you’ll find the latest, greatest spirea cultivars from National Garden Bureau members.
Founded more than 100 years ago, the National Garden Bureau educates, inspires, and motivates people to grow home gardens. National Garden Bureau members are horticultural experts, and the information shared with you comes directly from these experts to ensure your gardening success.
Each state in the U.S. has their own list of invasive species. Before trying a new plant in your garden, refer to the USDA’s National Invasive Species Information website or check with local agencies such as an Extension specialist.
“This post is provided as an educational/inspirational service of the National Garden Bureau and our members. Please credit and link to National Garden Bureau and author member when using all or parts of this article.”
3 comments. Leave new
I have abridsl spirea, love it! Should I fertilize it snd when.
To fertilze your spirea the best time is spring with a controlled-release fertilzer formulated for trees and shrubs according to instructions.
I enjoyed this article. As i read i could see the spirea in my little garden and plan to follow through with new plantings as soon as i find a good vendor close by. Thank you.