Spiraea japonica 'ANTHONY WATERER'

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 though 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.

Antony Waterer is a beautiful variety of Japanese spiraea with the most striking colour. In mid June open rich corymbs of small, vivid pink flowers that are best deadhead to promote further flowering. If this is done regularly, at least once a week, the shrub will continue making new flowers until early September and will look pretty and fresh without those ugly and dry seedpods. Leaves are deciduous, rich green, narrowly ovate to lance-shaped, shallowly serrated at margins, with some coppery hues as they emerge.

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 30-06-2014