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Spiraea x bumalda

Phonetic Spelling
spy-REE-ah boo-MAHL-dah
Description

Spiraea x bumalda, or Bumalda Spiraea, is a drought-tolerant, deciduous, flowering shrub that can grow to 2 or 3 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. Spiraea x bumalda is a garden hybrid, the result of a cross between Spiraea albiflora and Spiraea japonica and is named after Ovidio Montalbano (1601-1671) of Bologna, Italy who used the pseudonym Johannus Antonius Bumaldus when publishing his Bibliotheca botanica.  

Bumalda Spiraea grow easily in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. The plant does tolerate light shade and a wide range of soils (including clay), but prefers rich, moist loams. Bumalda displays white to deep pink flowers in flattened corymbs in an abundant bloom from late spring to mid-summer. The plant should be sited in full sun to maximize blooms. You should also remove any faded flower clusters with light shearing to encourage additional bloom. Foliage emerges with pinkish-purple tinting in spring, matures to dark green by summer and turns purplish-bronze in fall. The plant is broad and dense and can become twiggy; however, keep in mind that it flowers on new wood, so prune in late winter to early spring if needed.

Bumalda can be an aggressive self-seeder and is known to escape gardens and naturalize. Plants will also spread in the garden by suckering.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:

This plant may be damaged by deer. No known serious insect or disease problems. Spiraeas are generally susceptible to many of the diseases and insects that attack other rose family members, including leaf spot, fire blight, root rot, aphids, leaf roller and scale. It is said to be resistant to powdery mildew.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Anthony Waterer', 'Golden Sunrise'
Tags:
#deciduous#drought tolerant#shrub#aggressive#flowering shrub#butterfly friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Anthony Waterer', 'Golden Sunrise'
Tags:
#deciduous#drought tolerant#shrub#aggressive#flowering shrub#butterfly friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Spiraea
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Root Cutting
    Stem Cutting
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts butterflies.
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    drought
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Broad
    Dense
    Erect
    Mounding
    Multi-stemmed
    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)
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Very Dry
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Winter
    Fruit Type:
    Follicle
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Size:
    3-6 inches
    Flower Description:
    Four to six inch white to deep pink flowers on flat-topped corymb. Blooms from May to August on new growth.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Doubly Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Sharply-toothed, dark green leaves that are pinkish-purple on new growth and become copper in the fall.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Surface/Attachment:
    Ridges
    Bark Description:
    thin, brown
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Erect stems. Buds are appressed and parallel to stem.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Slope/Bank
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Barrier
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Erosion
    Pollution