Green Thumb Corner

First Editions™ Firegold™ Spirea, spiraea x vanhouttei 'Levgold' (PPAF), stands out because of its brilliant lemon-lime foliage. New growth is soft yellow changing to lemon, and finally to lime-green. White flowers appear in spring along gracefully arching branches. The color is at its most brilliant in full sun. Firegold is creating a buzz because of its one-of-a-kind look and performance. With its golden leaves, Firegold makes a standout hedge or a stand-alone specimen. It is among the easiest flowering shrubs to grow since it tolerates many soils except extremely wet; requires full sun for best blooms. Grows 4-6 feet tall and 5-7 feet wide.

Sparkling Carpet Spirea, spiraea japonica 'Sparkling Carpet' (PP13,665), is a fine-textured, small spreading shrub with lime-gold leaves. The leaves are bronze-red when young, then turn mahogany-red in fall. It looks like a tiny version of 'Gold Flame' and produces few pink flowers in summer. No pruning is required. Since it grows only 6-10 inches tall and 15-18 inches wide, it can be used as a groundcover or bedding plant! It would also be good for filling a space in a shrub border. Sparkling Carpet prefers full sun, and this is one of the easiest shrubs to grow since it tolerates many soils, except extremely wet. The plant also likes mulch and summer watering. Native to China and Japan.

The Spirea 'Anthony Waterer', Spiraea x bumalda 'Anthony Waterer', has flat-topped heads of rosy-pink flowers that cover the top of this dwarf shrub, backed by bright green foliage. Attractive new growth is reddish purple.The foliage is deciduous and the leaves are a wine-red to maroon and the in the fall maturing into a dark green.This small plant can be used in the foreground of shrub borders.

Spirea - First Editions™ Sundrop™, Spiraea 'Bailcarol' (PPAF), will add sunshine to any border! It produces beautiful sprays of pink flowers that stand out against its golden petite foliage. A natural dwarf with a rounded habit, it requires little pruning. The golden foliage holds its golden-yellow color even in summer heat. Sundrop is hardier that most golden spiraea. Sundrop produces best color in full sun. Distinguished by their size, bloom color and season of bloom, spireas all have small leaves and fine, twiggy branches. Once established, they are drought tolerant.

The Spirea 'Daphne', Spiraea japonica 'Alpina', exhibits small leaves on short, wiry branches, each tipped with a cluster of light pink flowers. It is a refined, tidy groundcover plant.It performs best in full sun. The foliage is dense and mat-like with a blue-green color.Distinguished by their size, bloom color and season of bloom, spireas all have small leaves and fine, twiggy branches. Once established, they are drought tolerant.

The Spirea 'Japanese White', Spiraea albiflora, has bright green foliage, topped by heavy clusters of white blooms. This deciduous shrub is low growing and exhibits a rounded form. Japanese Whites are effective in mixed shrub plantings, low borders and clumped together. Spireas are covered with flat clusters of flowers in June and again off and on all summer, especially if the old flowers are pruned. Spirea grow in sun or partial shade and most have nice fall color. Spireas are great in shrub groupings, near buildings, mass plantings, and low hedges.

Billiard Spirea, spiraea x billiardi, has an unusual flower form, with stamens twice as long as the petals. The rose colored blossoms occur in narrow, dense plumes from June to August. It has a tendency to sucker that would make it useful for embankments. It grows 6 feet tall and 4 feet in width. It is among the easiest flowering shrubs to grow since it is tolerant of many soils, except extremely wet. The plant also likes mulch and summer watering and prefers full sun to partial shade. Billiard would be great for mass or groupings, screens or border shrubs.

Bridalwreath Spirea, spiraea prunifolia, is a long-time favorite with its double, pure white flowers that bloom abundantly on arching branches in early spring. The clean, deep blue-green summer foliage develops an attractive yellow-orange to purple fall color. It is rounded with ascending graceful arching branches that are leggy, and somewhat irregular. Bridalwreath is truly a low-maintenance shrub with no problems. It grows to 5-9 feet tall, spreading to 6-8 feet. It requires full sun, average soil; occasional pruning my be needed just to maintain shape. Remove some of the oldest canes at ground level after bloom. Can be used as a single specimen, hedge or in shrub plantings.

Golden Princess™ Spirea, spiraea japonica 'Lisp' (PP7,537), has new foliage that emerges a red-bronze and matures to a bright yellow in summer. Its beautiful, bright-pink flowers in early summer cover this compact low grower. It develops a nice red-cast fall color and grows 18-24 inches tall and 2-3 feet wide. This bushy, low mounded, compact grower likes full sun and attracts butterflies. Spireas are among the easiest flowering shrubs to grow since they are tolerant of many soils except extremely wet. The plant also likes mulch and summer watering. Flowers on new wood, so prune in late winter to early spring if needed. It has no serious insect or disease problems.

Grefsheim Spirea, spiraea x cineria 'Grefsheim', is a densely, arching shaped shrub that is a lovely early flowering spirea. It has cascades of white flowers in April or early May. The narrow soft green foliage is combined with an abundance of white flowers in dense clusters all along the branches. The flowers appear before the leaves in mid spring, completely covering the shrub, giving the effect is of a light cloud. Grefsheim is among the easiest flowering shrubs to grow since it tolerates many soils, except extremely wet; requires full sun. The plant also likes mulch and summer watering. It grows 4-5 feet in height as well as width. Originated in Norway.

Gumball Spirea, spiraea x bumalda 'Gumball', is a compact plant that displays attractive pink flowers in May-June. These flowers are complimented by the purple-tipped new foliage, which changes to a red color in fall. This compact shrub grows 2' high to 4' wide which makes it a good low shrub border, which makes it ideal for small spaces. It will thrive in most locations and should be pruned after flowering and in early spring. It prefers full sun to light shade and well-drained soil. Transplant from container for best results. It is great for group or mass plantings, borders, or for foundation plant. It is resistant to drought and urban tolerant.

Halward's Silver Spirea, spiraea nipponica 'Halward's Silver', is a dense compact shrub that is covered in spring with abundant clusters of snow-white flowers. It has fine textured, dark green foliage in summer, and then develops yellow fall color. This hardy plant resists winter tip burn. It grows 2-3 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide. Since this shrub has a dense, upright, compact growing habit, it is good for a fine low hedge or accent planting, as well as a shrub border. Halward's Silver is a low-growing deciduous flowering shrub that exhibits cold tolerance. With its graceful arching branches, covered with abundant white flowers in early to mid-spring, it is a delightful addition to any garden or yard. Plant it in full sun to light shade and in well-drained soil. Transplant from container for best results.