Japanese spirea Spiraea japonica 'Goldmound'

'Gold Mound’ spiraea is a dense, woody, deciduous shrub in the rose family (Rosaceae). It is a hybrid cross between Spiraea japonica ‘Alpina’ and Spiraea japonica ‘Goldflame’ that grows 2 to 3.5 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide. 

Plant this spiraea in full sun or partial shade, in moist, well-drained soil. It will tolerate 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. ‘Gold Mound’ may self-seed and spread by suckering, leading it to appear weedy. It is resistant to deer, erosion and pollution.  

Compact and mounding in habit, this shrub boasts showy, small pink flowers that appear in late spring and attract butterflies. Its characteristically golden leaves make an excellent contrast to other landscape plants.

Use this shrub as a specimen, in small groups or a mass planting in a shrub border, low hedge, foundation planting or naturalized area. Plant it in a large container on a patio or alongside a walkway. Use it in a cottage, butterfly, pollinator, rock or coastal garden. 

Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Common insect problems include aphids, redbanded leaf roller, white-lined leaf roller, armored scale and soft scale.

VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

More information on Spiraea japonica.