Spiraea cantoniensis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- spy-REE-ah kan-toe-nee-EN-sis
- Description
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Spiraea cantoniensis, or 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 with the exception of 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
This plant is relatively pest and disease-free.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Laciniata'
- 'Lanceata'
- 'Laciniata'
- 'Laciniata', 'Lanceata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Laciniata'
- 'Lanceata'
- 'Laciniata'
- 'Laciniata', 'Lanceata'
- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a poly-follicle, with 3-5 plurisemined carpidia.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
