Limemound Spirea Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound'
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Spirea bumalda 'Limemound'
- Phonetic Spelling
- sp-i-REE-a ja-PON-i-ka
- Description
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Limemound Spirea is a cultivar deciduous shrub in the rose family with lime green colored leaves. It is a hybrid cross between S. japonica and S. albiflora. Compact in habit, this shrub boasts showy small pink flowers that appear in late spring and last until mid-summer attracting 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.
Plant this mounding small shrub as a specimen, use it in small groups along a shrub border, as a foundation planting or low hedge. The lime green leaves look lovely next to the red bricks of a patio or in a cottage or rock garden.
This plant is resistant to damage by deer. Propagate by dividing the root fall 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 landscape:
- 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:
- Perennial
- 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. - 4 ft. 0 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:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Tiny pink flowers in corymbs bloom from late spring to mid-summer
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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:
- Simple ovate toothed leaves are yellow when they appear in early spring and turn lime green with a bit of russet as they mature.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- 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