Spiraea japonica
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- spy-REE-ah juh-PON-ih-kuh
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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This plant is problematic and alternatives should be considered.
Japanese spiraea is a deciduous, perennial shrub in the rose family (Rosaceae) that is invasive in North Carolina. It is native to Japan and China.
It grows in full sun to partial shade and well-drained, alkaline soil, typically reaching 4 to 6 feet high and wide. It is a rapid grower and can be an aggressive self-seeder. It has escaped gardens and naturalized in many areas of the eastern United States. It also reproduces by stem cuttings or suckering, creating a dense thicket of thin wiry stems that will displace other plants. Unlike some other species of spiraea, this plant may be damaged by deer.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: It is listed as invasive in Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and others including the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. Consider planting native alternatives found in the left-hand column. Spiraeas are susceptible to many of the diseases and insects that attack other rose family members, including leaf spot, fire blight, powdery mildew, root rot, aphids, leaf roller and scale.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Floricyle
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Double Play® Candy Corn®
- 'Little Princess'
Small pink flower clusters; compact, rounded habit; 2-3 feet tall. CPP cultivar - 'Neon Flash'
Neon red flowers; up to 3 feet tall and wide; leaves turn burgundy in fall - 'Shirobana'
Rose, pink and white blooms on each plant; compact habit; reaches 3 feet high and wide.
Bright orange foliage. 'Gold Mound'
Showy small pink flowers that appear in late spring 'Lime Mound'
Compact in habit boasting showy small pink flowers - 'Little Princess'
- Double Play® Candy Corn®, 'Gold Mound', 'Lime Mound', 'Little Princess', 'Neon Flash', 'Shirobana'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
-
Double Play® Candy Corn®
- 'Little Princess'
Small pink flower clusters; compact, rounded habit; 2-3 feet tall. CPP cultivar - 'Neon Flash'
Neon red flowers; up to 3 feet tall and wide; leaves turn burgundy in fall - 'Shirobana'
Rose, pink and white blooms on each plant; compact habit; reaches 3 feet high and wide.
Bright orange foliage. 'Gold Mound'
Showy small pink flowers that appear in late spring 'Lime Mound'
Compact in habit boasting showy small pink flowers - 'Little Princess'
- Double Play® Candy Corn®, 'Gold Mound', 'Lime Mound', 'Little Princess', 'Neon Flash', 'Shirobana'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Spiraea
- Species:
- japonica
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Japan and China
- Wildlife Value:
- attracts butterflies
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is a dry, brown follicle.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Blooms in June and July with mild fragrance. Inflorescence is terminal flat-topped corymb or borne in uppermost leaf axils with flower clusters to 8 inches in diameter. Flowers are deep pink or rose-reddish, 1/4 to 1/3 of an inch.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Doubly Serrate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Lustrous dark green leaves. 1 to 3 inches long when mature. Serrate to double serrate margins. Pink, red, purple, yellow or chartreuse leaves when young. Somewhat glaucous with downy veins beneath.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Wiry, freely branching, erect stems are brown to reddish-brown, round in cross-section and sometimes hairy.
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Erosion
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Weedy
