Goldmound Spirea Spiraea japonica 'Gold Mound'
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Spirea bumalda 'Gold Mound'
- Phonetic Spelling
- sp-i-REE-a ja-PON-i-ka
- Description
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Goldmound Spirea is a cultivar deciduous shrub in the rose family with characteristically golden colored leaves. It is a hybrid cross between S. japonica ‘Alpina’ and S. japonica ‘Goldflame’. Compact in habit, this shrub boasts showy small pink flowers that appear in late spring and attract butterflies. Plant in the full sun, in moist well-drained soils. It will tolerate very light shade and a wide range of soils but prefers organically rich loams. Prune in the late winter to early spring as flowers appear on new wood.
Its chartreuse leaves make an excellent contrast to other landscape plants and it can be used as a specimen, planted in small groups in a shrub border, along a foundation or as a low hedge. Plant in large containers on a patio or use in a cottage or rock style garden. This plant is resistant to damage by deer. Propagate by dividing the root ball in the spring or fall or by soft wood cuttings in the summer.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Courtyard Garden Paver Pathway
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:












- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Spiraea
- Species:
- japonica
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Stem Cutting
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract butterflies.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- erosion, clay, air pollution, deer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Mounding
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4b, 4a, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Tiny pink late spring flowers appear on 3" wide corymbs. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage rebloom. Flowers appear on new wood.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are gold in early spring when they first leaf out and mature to green-gold. Fall bring intresting shades of yellow, orange and/or red.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Patio
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Erosion
- Pollution