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Japanese Spirea 'Gold Mound' 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

'Goldmound Spirea' is a cultivar deciduous shrub in the Roseaceae (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.  Removing the faded flowers will promote additional blooms.  

Spreading by suckers and its self-seeding tendencies can lead to the plant spreading to locations other than the intended area.  

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.

More information on Spiraea japonica.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscapes:
Courtyard Garden Paver Pathway
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Double Play Candy Corn'
    Glod, Greenish Gold & scarlet leaves
'Double Play Candy Corn'
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#specimen#pink flowers#deciduous shrub#nectar plant#showy leaves#low maintenance#fall interest#mass planting#deer resistant#foundation planting#small flowers#naturalizes#rock garden#naturalized area#suckers#flowers late spring#fall color yellow#walkway planting#small group plantings#compact habit#clay soils tolerant#nectar plant late spring#fall color red#fall color orange#butterfly friendly#shrub borders#compact#fall color#suckering shrub#suckering#hedge#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Double Play Candy Corn'
    Glod, Greenish Gold & scarlet leaves
'Double Play Candy Corn'
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#specimen#pink flowers#deciduous shrub#nectar plant#showy leaves#low maintenance#fall interest#mass planting#deer resistant#foundation planting#small flowers#naturalizes#rock garden#naturalized area#suckers#flowers late spring#fall color yellow#walkway planting#small group plantings#compact habit#clay soils tolerant#nectar plant late spring#fall color red#fall color orange#butterfly friendly#shrub borders#compact#fall color#suckering shrub#suckering#hedge#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Spiraea
    Species:
    japonica
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Wildlife Value:
    Flowers attract butterflies.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Easy to Grow
    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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Mounding
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    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)
    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
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Tiny pink late spring flowers appear on 3" wide corymbs. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage rebloom. Flowers appear on new wood.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Container
    Naturalized Area
    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
    Problems:
    Weedy