Spirea shrubs are a delightful addition to any garden, known for their stunning flowers, colorful foliage, and easy-care nature. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore nine of the best types of spirea shrubs to help you choose the perfect one for your garden. From compact mounds to graceful arching varieties, spireas offer a wide range of options to suit every garden style.

Why Spirea Shrubs Are Popular

Spirea shrubs, part of the Spiraea genus, are beloved for their many outstanding qualities in the garden and landscape. Here are a few reasons why they are a popular choice for gardeners:

• Multiple seasons of interest with clusters of pretty pink, purple, red, or white flowers
• Color-changing foliage that adds visual appeal throughout the year
• Beautiful forms that include elegant, swooping branches or compact, tidy clusters
• Easy-to-grow culture suitable for a wide range of climates
• Attracts beneficial pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
• Deer-resistant, making them a great option for wildlife-friendly gardens

Spirea shrubs can be used as accents, specimens, containers on decks and patios, or mass planted in barriers, foundations, hedges, or screens.

9 Favorite Types of Spirea Shrubs

1. Anthony Waterer

   • Description: A garden classic with a compact, mounded form, colorful foliage, and flat-topped umbels of carmine red flowers.
   • Growing Conditions: Hardy in USDA Zones 4 to 9.
   • Where to Buy: Available at Home Depot.

2. Audubon Meadowsweet

   • Description: A North American native with fragrant white to pale pink flowers that bloom all summer.
   • Growing Conditions: Hardy in Zones 3 to 7.
   • Where to Buy: Containers available at Nature Hills Nursery.

3. Bridalwreath

   • Description: Graceful, arching branches covered in masses of small, white to pale pink double flowers.
   • Growing Conditions: Hardy in Zones 4 to 9.
   • Where to Buy: Two-packs of plants available at Home Depot.

4. Double Play Candy Corn

   • Description: Striking foliage and magenta-purple flowers in late spring through early summer.
   • Growing Conditions: Hardy in Zones 4 to 8.
   • Where to Buy: Available at Burpee.

5. Firelight

   • Description: Colorful foliage with flat-topped, rosy-pink flowers in midsummer.
   • Growing Conditions: Hardy in Zones 4 to 8.
   • Where to Buy: Container plants available at Nature Hills Nursery.

6. Glow Girl

   • Description: Compact shrub that shines with color from spring to fall and attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
   • Growing Conditions: Hardy in Zones 3 to 9.
   • Where to Buy: Container plants available at Nature Hills Nursery.

7. Japanese White

   • Description: Prolific bloomer with frothy white flowers above dark green foliage.
   • Growing Conditions: Hardy in Zones 3 to 8.
   • Where to Buy: Plants available at Nature Hills Nursery.

8. Snowmound

   • Description: Masses of tiny white flowers similar to bridalwreath but smaller in size.
   • Growing Conditions: Hardy in Zones 3 to 7.
   • Where to Buy: Containers available at Nature Hills Nursery.

9. Vanhouttei

   • Description: Prolific bloomer with graceful, arching stems smothered in dainty white flowers.
   • Growing Conditions: Hardy in Zones 4 to 8.
   • Where to Buy: Containers available at Nature Hills Nursery.

Long-Lasting, Colorful Interest

Spirea shrubs are prized for their long-lasting, colorful interest throughout the year. Their foliage changes color, their flowers attract bees and butterflies, and they are suitable for containers, making them versatile additions to any garden.

Do you have a favorite type of spirea growing in your garden? Which one will you plant next? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

For more spirea care tips, be sure to check out our additional guides on pruning, winter care, evergreen varieties, and how to grow and care for Japanese spirea.

Remember, when it comes to flowering shrubs, few can match the beauty and versatility of spirea. So, why not add a few to your garden this season and enjoy their stunning blooms and foliage year-round?

Conclusion

In conclusion, spirea shrubs are a delightful addition to any garden, offering a wide range of varieties to suit every gardener’s preference. From colorful flowers to changing foliage, these shrubs provide year-round interest and attract beneficial pollinators to your garden. Whether you prefer compact mounds or graceful arching branches, there is a spirea variety for every garden style.

So why not add a few spirea shrubs to your garden this season and enjoy their beauty and easy-care nature? Happy gardening!