Spirea Bushes Spirea bushes have many common names including meadowsweets and steeplebushes. They are sometimes spelled as Spiraea also. ...
Spirea Bushes
Spirea bushes have many common names including meadowsweets and steeplebushes. They are sometimes spelled as Spiraea also. Their genus has about 80-100 species of woody shrubs in the Rosaceae family. Spirea bushes are native to the northern hemisphere’s temperate regions. In eastern Asia, their greatest diversity can be found.
Generally, these bushes are easy to grow and care for. These versatile characteristics make them among the most popular ones in the floral market.
They can fit almost any landscape with their beautiful blooms and textured foliage. Most gardeners use them for hedging, ground cover, mass planting, and perennial beds. The modern hybrids are even more versatile.
Description of Spirea Bushes
The spirea bushes have deciduous, lanceolate leaves arranged in a spiraling manner and are short-stalked. They measure about 2.5 – 10 cm long and have toothed margins. Sometimes they may have even smooth margins depending on the type of cultivar.
These shrubs usually bloom in white, red, pink, or lavender color. These flowers form in clusters. Most of them are mostly bisexual. They can be unisexual also in rare cases.
These beautiful flowers have five petals and five sepals. Usually, the sepals are shorter than the petals. The stamen count varies between 15 - 60 in each flower.
The spirea bushes are classified as summer bushes and spring bushes. The summer bushes bloom in red, pink, or white colors from June to August. The spring plants mostly bloom abundant white flowers during April and May.
Propagation of Spirea Bushes
Spirea bushes are one of the fast-growing, easy to propagate, and care plants. They require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to grow healthy. Make sure the soil is slightly acidic and well-draining. The ideal soil pH is 6 – 7.
Softwood cutting
You can start this process in the summer months.
Cut the flexible stems from established plants. Make sure they are about 10 – 12 inches long. Then remove the foliage from the bottom portion.
Dip the bottom portion end in rooting hormone and plant it in a pot filled with potting mix. Water the pot well initially. You can plant about 3 – 4 stems in a pot.
Cover the pot in a plastic bag. This helps to retain the soil moisture. water the pot at least once every week. And maintain the soil moisture.
Normally, the roots develop in about a month. After that, repot the stems in individual containers. You can place the containers indoors during cold winters and place them outwards during spring.
Hardwood cutting
Generally, this process is carried out when the plants go dormant in winter. To be precise, the perfect time to start cutting stems in just after the leaf drop in the fall (autumn) or just before the bud burst in the winter season, avoiding the peak frosts.
Simply, cut out the mature stems about 12 inches. Trim the top of the cuttings and remove the leaves below the leaf nodes (bottom half portion)
Place the cutting in holes dug about 6 inches deep and backfill the soil firmly. Water well and maintain the soil moist but not soggy.
The cuttings will root in about 3-4 weeks. After that, in spring, you can transplant them in other places or pots as per your desire.
Ground Layering
This is one of the easiest methods of propagation. Generally, this method is carried out during spring.
Choose a flexible and long stem for the outer edge of the plant. Select a portion that is easy to pin to the ground underneath and scrap the bark for about 4 inches.
Remove the foliage on either side from the scrapped potion and pin it in the trench dug beneath it on the ground. Make sure the trench is at least an inch deep and about 3 – 4 inches long.
Cover the trench firmly with soil and water it well initially. Then maintain the soil moist by watering regularly.
In about 6 – 8 weeks, the new roots will form. Then, cut off the pinned portion from the host plant and transplant it in a new place or pots.
Caring spirea bushes
Apply a light balanced fertilizer (NPK 10-10-10) every spring. This will provide enough sustenance to the plants for the entire season.
Young plants require watering until they mature. After that, water only when the soil is dry as they become drought tolerant.
The spring-flowering varieties require pruning right after flowering as they bloom on the previous year's woody growth. But you can prune the summer flowering types in the winter following the flowering season as they bloom on freshly growing stems.
Remove the dead woods and spent blooms on both varieties after blooming.
Mulching is required to prevent the roots of young plants in winter. However, the matured plants do not require mulching as they are frost resistant. You can simply move the container-grown plants inside the home to protect them from freezing colds.
Pests and Diseases
The spirea bushes rarely suffer from pests and diseases. However, there are some pests and diseases that commonly bother the Rosaceae (rose) family of plants.
Pests
Spider Mites and Pests commonly infest these plants. Spray a strong blaze of water from the hose or any other arrangement to wash them away. You can also use neem oil sprays or insecticidal soap treatments.
The introduction of beneficial insects is also an effective way to naturally control these pests.
Diseases
Powdery mildew infection is common among plants. This disease infects plants in cold and wet conditions. It causes a whitish coating on the infected parts which leads to stunted growth and decolorization.
This disease spreads easily by its spores traveling through wind and contaminated tools.
Ensuring airflow by periodical pruning of plants and removing the debris immediately is the best way to prevent this disease.
You can try fungicide treatment to deal with this disease. In case of persistence of the problem, simply dispose of the affected parts immediately.
Uses of spirea bushes
The spirea bushes suit perfectly well as foundation plants. You can plant them in landscapes, hedges or edges, perennial beds, or en masse as screens.
For small gardens, the low growing varieties serve well. They can serve as container plants, border plants, ground covers, or as side plants along the pathways or sidewalk.
Generally, the spirea flowers last long. So, they can be an excellent addition to floral arrangements.
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