Bumalda Spiraea Spiraea x bumalda

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.