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Garland spiraea Spiraea x cinerea 'Grefsheim'

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
spy-REE-ah sin-EER-ee-uh
Description

Spiraea x cinerea 'Grefsheim', or Garland spiraea, is a cultivar of the spiraea family. As with all spiraea, it is a dense, compact, deciduous flowering shrub with outward arching branches. This particular cultivar is noted for its early blossoms, producing fragrant white flowers in early spring along slender naked branches. The foliage of narrow, green, leaves is dense on the branches, but appears after the blooms. Old, dried flower heads will remain on the plant after blooming and can be pruned off with a light shearing to encourage continued blossoms. The plant, itself, flowers on new wood so it is best to prune the branches in late winter or early spring. This plant works well on banks, as a low mass or filler, or as the front of a shrub border.

Garland spiraea is drought tolerant and has an upright, broadly mounded form. The plant prefers rich loam, but grows in a range of soil types (including clay) in average, medium moisture, good drainage, and full sun. It will not do well in wet, poorly drained, soil. It tolerates light shade, but blossoms best when sited in full sun. It can be an aggressive self-seeder and has been known to escape gardens and naturalize in many areas of the eastern United States. The plant can also spread in the garden by suckering.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:

Spiraeas are susceptible to many of the diseases and insects that attack other rose family members, including leaf spot, fire blight, powdery mildew, root rot, aphids, leaf roller and scale.

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#drought tolerant#shrub#flowering shrub#border planting#butterfly friendly#hedge
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#drought tolerant#shrub#flowering shrub#border planting#butterfly friendly#hedge
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Spiraea
    Species:
    cinerea
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Japan and China
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts butterflies.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Dense
    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 Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Fruit Type:
    Follicle
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Small white flowers bloom early in the spring before foliage.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Doubly Dentate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    1 inch soft sea-green leaves, narrowed at each end.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Slope/Bank
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Hedge
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Erosion