Spiraea japonica 'GOLD MOUND'

Spiraea is a common shrub of Central-Europeans parks. This low-maintenance plant is available in many species and varieties each of which offers a different feature. Even thoug public plantings often offer the same one over and over, and the only job done to avoid absolute neglect is radical pruning to bizarre shapes that don’t suit this plant at all, spiraea can be a pretty plant if used sporadically and well located in the garden.

Gold Mound is a dwarf spiraea crossing between varieties Alpina and Goldflame. It forms a low mound of striking yellow leaves in spring and early summer that darken a bit to golden-green in hot summer. This spiraea has fantastic autumn foliage: fiery shades of orange and red. Pink flowers are composed in small cymes in June and July. They are best removed immediately after flowering in order to remove dry seedpods and to keep the shrub clean and pretty. Even without pruning it grows dense and branches well.

Spring pruning will encourage new growths and the plant will get thicker and will flower more profusely. You can cut off up to two thirds of previous year’s growth or trim the twigs to achieve a desired shape. It is widely soil adaptable but does best in slightly acidic, fertile, constantly moist soil in full sun. Fully hardy to about -34°C (USDA zone 4) and suitable for outdoor pots.

Last update 04-02-2014