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Spiraea cantoniensis

Phonetic Spelling
spy-REE-ah kan-toe-nee-EN-sis
Description

Bridal-wreath Spiraea is a deciduous perennial shrub typically grown as an ornamental feature in gardens. The plant can reach a height of 6 feet, tends to be twiggy and spreading into a fountain-like form, and displays frothy, pompom-like clusters of snow-white flowers along the terminal of arching branches. The bush blooms in May in its native China; hence the common name, May Bush.

Bridal-wreath Spiraea is a hardy plant that is drought and heat-tolerant, slightly salt-tolerant, and seldom damaged by deer. The plant is easily transplanted, grows rapidly, and will often require pruning, which should be done after the plant has completed flowering. It grows in a range of soil types except for wet soil and produces new stems from the base of the plant. It is best grown in cooler climates with protection from the hot afternoon sun as that can cause leaf burn.

The flowers attract butterflies. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems No significant problems

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Laciniata'
    Lanceolata and Laciniata misapplied
  • 'Lanceata'
    Double Reeves Spirea; clusters of white double flowers; arching branches; reaches 6 feet wide by 6 feet high
'Laciniata', 'Lanceata'
Tags:
#arching#deciduous#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#shrub#salt tolerant#deer resistant#fantz#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#perennial#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Laciniata'
    Lanceolata and Laciniata misapplied
  • 'Lanceata'
    Double Reeves Spirea; clusters of white double flowers; arching branches; reaches 6 feet wide by 6 feet high
'Laciniata', 'Lanceata'
Tags:
#arching#deciduous#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#shrub#salt tolerant#deer resistant#fantz#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#perennial#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Spiraea
    Species:
    cantoniensis
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southeast China
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts butterflies.
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Drought, heat, deer, and salt tolerant
    Dimensions:
    Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit is a poly-follicle, with 3-5 plurisemined carpidia.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Dome
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Colored Sepals
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    The flowers are a 2 inch pompom-like cluster. The inflorescence is a crowded hemispheric corymb, on pins at branch terminus, to 2 inch diameter. Flowers are white to pinkish, about 1/3 of an inch in diameter. They have 5 petals.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Oblong
    Rhomboidal
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The dark green leaves are acute, cuneate, incised serrate or irregularly 3-cleft. They are dark blue-green, 1 to 2 1/2 inches, glabrous above, glaucous with 3-5 conspicuous main veins beneath.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Upright; arching branches; produces new stems from the base. Stems are slender, glabrous, and arching.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Meadow
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Flowering Tree
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Heat
    Salt