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Spiraea japonica 'Limemound' is often confused with:
Spiraea japonica 'Gold Mound' Spiraea japonica 'Gold Mound' leaves and flowers
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Enkianthus campanulatus Enkianthus campanulatus
Hibiscus syriacus 'Blue Bird' Hibiscus syriacus 'Blue Bird'
Spiraea japonica 'Gold Mound' Spiraea japonica 'Gold Mound' leaves and flowers
Spiraea japonica 'Limemound' has some common insect problems:
Aphids on Ornamental Landscape Plants
Spiraea japonica 'Limemound' has some common disease problems:
Fire Blight

Spiraea japonica 'Limemound'

Previously known as:

  • Spirea bumalda 'Limemound'
Phonetic Spelling
sp-i-REE-a ja-PON-i-ka
Description

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 rich, 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.  Deadheading will encourage additional blooms.  

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. Can be susceptible to leaf spot, fire blight, scale, aphids, root rot, and powdery mildew.

Its self-seeding and suckering can allow this plant to get out of control if not aggressively monitoring.  

 

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 landscape:
Paths & Walkways
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#specimen#pink flowers#deciduous shrub#nectar plant#low maintenance#fall interest#mass planting#air pollution tolerant#deer resistant#foundation planting#frost tolerant#small flowers#long bloom time#self-seeding#cutting garden#suckers#flowers late spring#flowers midsummer#poor soils tolerant#flowers early summer#fall color yellow#walkway planting#urban conditions tolerant#small group plantings#compact habit#clay soils tolerant#nectar plant late spring#fall color red#fall color orange#lime green leaves#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#shrub borders#compact#suckering shrub#suckering#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#specimen#pink flowers#deciduous shrub#nectar plant#low maintenance#fall interest#mass planting#air pollution tolerant#deer resistant#foundation planting#frost tolerant#small flowers#long bloom time#self-seeding#cutting garden#suckers#flowers late spring#flowers midsummer#poor soils tolerant#flowers early summer#fall color yellow#walkway planting#urban conditions tolerant#small group plantings#compact habit#clay soils tolerant#nectar plant late spring#fall color red#fall color orange#lime green leaves#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#shrub borders#compact#suckering shrub#suckering#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Spiraea
    Species:
    japonica
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Landscape
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Japan
    Wildlife Value:
    Flowers attract bees and butterflies.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Defines Paths
    Easy to Grow
    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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Mounding
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    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:
    Good Cut
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Tiny pink flowers in corymbs bloom from late spring to mid-summer
  • 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 inch
    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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    The red stems add to garden color in the fall.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Patio
    Slope/Bank
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Small groups
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Erosion
    Pollution
    Poor Soil
    Urban Conditions