How to Grow Spirea in the Garden: The Complete Guide

Closeup of a Perennial spirea flower plant bush
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JackSpot
Botanical Name
Spirea spp.
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Learn how to plant, grow, and care for spirea shrubs

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Spirea shrubs are easy to plant and hard to ignore. Their high flower power brings pollinators all summer, and a hedge of spirea will be abuzz with bee activity from mid-morning until dusk. Learn about this fast grower that provides three-season interest in our growing guide.

About Spirea

Spiraea species are among the easiest flowering shrubs to grow. The genus has long been cultivated as ornamentals in the United States, though native to Asia. The name Spirea is pronounced spy-ree-uh. You’ll often see it matched with a cultivar, like Spirea ‘Babysbreath’ or Spirea ‘Double Play Doozie.’ 

These shrubs are tough, cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8, and some varieties are suitable down to zone 3.  When choosing a spirea, look at the cold hardiness, but check out the foliage, flower color, and timing. Some varieties begin blooming in spring, and others do not until summer, but all are long bloomers, continuing to put up new flowers for weeks, if not months. Flowers bloom in pink, white, lavender, and red. Once they finish flowering, they have small, colorful leaves that turn gold, orange, or burgundy in the autumn! 

Birchleaf spirea in morning sun in October. Credit: Traveller70

With nearly 100 unique species, there are so many gorgeous options one is sure to fit your garden! They grow in sizes ranging from two to eight feet tall. Shorter, more compact varieties make excellent plantings along foundations, at the edge of rock gardens, around a mailbox, or along a path. Taller types can be planted in rows, providing a three-season privacy hedge full of color and foliage. A spirea or two planted together make an excellent splash of color when designing modern meadows, flowing English gardens, or even brightening up a spot near the property border or back corner. With their low maintenance needs, they’re perfect for covering less-than-fertile slopes or other hard-to-reach areas.

Deer seem to walk past spirea, although I’ve seen a nibbled stem or two at the end of winter when they’ll eat about anything. Wondering which plants get munched the most? See our deer-resistant plants. Most importantly, spirea flowers are adored by hummingbirds, butterflies, and almost all kinds of pollinator bees.

Once established, spirea tolerate dry weather and won’t need much attention other than looking at their pretty blooms. Spirea stems make excellent foliage and flowers for the vase and last longer than most of the stems in the bouquet. 

Planting

Spireas like full sun but will do fine in partial shade; although they may bloom a bit less, they’ll still flower. They aren’t picky about soil type or pH as long as the site is well drained. 

When to Plant Spirea

Flowering spirea shrubs as a border garden outdoors.
Spirea make beautiful border shrubs. Credit: NGB

Spirea bushes are usually purchased from the garden center as small or medium-sized potted shrubs but can also be found online. Plant as possible in spring while the shrub is still dormant. Or, in warmer climates, they also do well when planted in mid-autumn. Water them weekly (if it doesn’t rain an inch), and they’ll be well-established after the first season. 

How to Plant Spirea

For containerized spirea: 

  • Loosen the soil and prepare the site, removing stones, roots, turf, and weeds.  
  • If the plant is in a container, remove it by squeezing the edges of the plastic nursery pot. If the plant doesn’t work free, try watering it thoroughly and waiting for 20-30 minutes. 
  • Trim any circling roots, loosen the edges of the rootball, and prepare a hole twice the size of the original pot. The hole should have sloping sides like a bowl.
  • Set the plant in the hole so the soil level of the plant’s rootball matches or is slightly higher than that of the surrounding ground. Dig a bit deeper or fill in as necessary. Don’t leave a hard layer at the bottom of the hole–loosen it up with your trowel.
  • Replace the soil you removed, applying light but firm pressure as you go to eliminate air pockets around the roots. 
    Water deeply immediately after planting. 
  • Add a layer of mulch to keep the weeds down and the soil moisture even. Avoid piling it up around the stem. 

For bareroot spireas:

  • Remove the shrub from its packaging and soak the roots in a bucket of water for 1-2 hours.
  • While the plant is soaking, prepare the planting site. Dig a hole slightly deeper than the roots and at least six inches wider on all sides. You want room to spread the roots, not leave them in a tube shape.
  • Test fit the shrub in the hole and adjust as necessary by adding or removing soil. The spirea should be planted with the crown just at or slightly higher than the surrounding ground level. Look for the stain on the stem to indicate how deep it was grown at the nursery.
  • Spread the roots, trim off any broken pieces, and fill in the soil, taking care to keep the shrub upright. It’s easy to plant bareroot shrubs and trees crooked!
  • When halfway filled, water the shrub, then continue filling the hole, removing air pockets as you go.
  • When finished, water again.
  • Apply a layer of mulch. Taller bareroot shrubs may need staking for the first month to keep them upright.

Growing

Spireas will live for years in your yard, blooming and creating happy bees and butterflies. They’re pretty much maintenance-free.

How to Grow Spirea

Like most other perennials, newly transplanted spireas will need some supplemental watering for the first season. Weekly deep waterings will help them establish quickly. After the first growing season, spireas don’t usually need supplemental watering except during extreme dry weather. 

Spireas can also be fertilized annually in early spring with a general-purpose slow-release fertilizer. A yearly top dressing of compost around the base of the shrub will improve the soil and keep it growing well. Reapply mulch as necessary to keep weeds down. 

Deadheading older varieties will keep them blooming more vigorously and keep them from setting seed, but it isn’t strictly necessary. Newer cultivars may not set seed, and many don’t need to be deadheaded at all unless you wish for aesthetics.

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Wit and Wisdom

  • The genus name Spirea comes from the Greek word for wreath, which refers to the showy flowers that appear along long arching branches that can be made into wreaths.
  • Spireas bloom on old wood. Prune in summer after flowering. Thin the center of the shrub to promote air flow. 
  • Spirea can be pruned back hard, removing half or two-thirds of the plant if it has become leggy, woody, and out of control. 

Pests/Diseases

Spireas are rarely bothered by pests or diseases, making growing them even easier. Phytophthora or Pythium root rots can be a problem in poorly drained areas. 

About The Author

Andy Wilcox

Andy Wilcox is a flower farmer and master gardener with a passion for soil health, small producers, forestry, and horticulture. Read More from Andy Wilcox