Best spiraea varieties: 10 superb shrubs for fantastic flowers and foliage

If you’re looking for easy-to-grow flowering shrubs that also feature fantastic foliage to give color from spring to fall - then search no longer. Spiraeas (sometimes spelt spireas) are the answer.

These twiggy, well-behaved shrubs lose their leaves in winter and will grow almost anywhere, including some of the coldest parts of the country. Some bring us richly colored leaves, while others deliver a flurry spring blossom, making them some of the best shrubs for the front of a house.

One group of varieties open their flat or rounded heads of white flowers in late spring – and can be so prolific that for few weeks they look as if it has snowed. A second group features flattish heads of pink, or sometimes white, flowers later in the season plus golden or purplish leaves from spring to fall. In some especially pretty varieties the new leaves open in red or purple and develop through amber tones to gold. Here, we share 10 of the best spiraea varieties to suit any yard.

10 of the best spiraea varieties

Spiraeas are some of the most cold-tolerant shrubs you can grow. Most are hardy down to USDA hardiness zone 4, (that’s a winter temperature of -30F) and some are even hardy to zone 3. Spiraeas are invaluable in our cooler zones. And they have other fine qualities, too.

Spiraeas will grow in most yards where the soil is not waterlogged or parched. Although happy in full sun or part shade, a long day of sunshine will bring the most prolific flowering and the most colorful foliage in your spiraea.

Another big bonus with spiraeas is that even if never pruned they very rarely outgrow their space. Annual spiraea pruning to boost flower power and foliage effect is easy and quick and, if your spiraea should need rejuvenating, then that’s simple too.

Spiraea ‘Arguta’

Clusters of pure white flowers open all along the branches in mid and late spring, they face upwards from the elegant arching growth to give the plant its common name of bridal wreath. Plant sweet peas to scramble through and flower in summer.

Type Deciduous shrub.

Good for Small garden specimen.

Deer resistant? Yes.

Care Prune promptly after flowering. Mulch in fall.

Hardiness USDA Zone 4-9.

Height 5-9ft.

You can buy Spiraea arguta from Perfect Plants.

Spiraea japonica Double Play Series

A range of seven neat and compact varieties that combine attractive foliage with colorful spring flowers. Double Play Candy Corn (‘NCSX1’) has red shoot tips, bright yellow leaves and purple late spring flowers, Double Play Doozie (‘NCSX2') has rich reddish green foliage, and reddish pink flowers. The others in the series are also well worth considering.

Type Deciduous shrub

Good for Ground cover, low hedging, attracting pollinators, foundation planting.

Deer resistant? Yes.

Care Prune early in spring, deadhead after flowering if necessary. Mulch in fall.

Hardiness USDA Zone 3-8.

Height 2-3ft.

You can find Spiraea japonica Double Play Series at Burpee.

Spiraea japonica ‘Goldflame’

An old favorite, and one of the most popular spiraea varieties, the new shoots are reddish orange maturing to bright yellow and then to green, with flat heads of deep rosy red late spring flowers. Sometimes produces plain green leaves.

Type Deciduous shrub.

Good for Ground cover, low hedging, foundation planting, attracting pollinators.

Deer resistant? Yes.

Care Prune in late winter or early spring, as growth begins, then deadhead after flowering to encourage a second flush of flowers. Snip out any plain green shoots.

Hardiness USDA Zone 4-9.

Height 2-4ft.

You can buy Spiraea ‘Goldflame’ from Nature Hills.

Spiraea japonica ‘Gold Mound’

This low, mounded variety features yellow foliage early in the season, steadily fading to pale green. There are also small heads of reddish pink flower heads in late spring. This is one of the more dainty varieties, good in small spaces that are not heavily shaded.

Type Deciduous shrub.

Good for Containers, the front of the border.

Deer resistant? Yes.

Care Prune in late winter or early spring to encourage flowering growth for later in the season, deadhead after flowering.

Hardiness USDA Zone 4-9.

Height 2-3ft.

Buy Spiraea japonica ‘Gold Mound’ from Perfect Plants

Buy Spiraea japonica ‘Gold Mound’ from Walmart

Spiraea japonica ‘Little Princess’

Neat, compact and well-branched plants feature bluish green foliage sometimes described as looking 'minty', that makes an effective background to the flat heads of tiny reddish pink flowers. Dependably dwarf in habit, and well without pruning.

Type Deciduous shrub.

Good for Containers, foundation planting, small sunny borders.

Deer resistant? Yes.

Care Prune in late winter or early spring to encourage flowering growth for later in the season, deadhead after flowering.

Hardiness USDA Zone 4-8.

Height 18-30in.

Buy Spiraea japonica ‘Little Princess’ from Perfect Plants.

Spiraea japonica Magic Carpet (‘Walbuma’)

This improved version of the popular ‘Goldflame’ is more compact and its golden orange shoot tips mature to almost lemon yellow, with no plain green shoots, although becoming a little greener in high summer in the south. The flower clusters are bright reddish pink.

Type Deciduous shrub.

Good for Foundation planting, ground cover, the front of a sunny border.

Deer resistant? Yes.

Care Prune in late winter, dead head as the flowers fade, mulch in fall.

Hardiness USDA Zone 4-8.

Height 2-3ft.

You can buy Spiraea japonica Magic Carpet (‘Walbuma’) from Nature Hills.

Spiraea nipponica ‘Snowmound’

Dense, well-branched growth is made up of elegant arching branches lined with upward-facing clusters of pure white flowers in spring and early summer, almost hiding the slightly bluish green leaves

Type Deciduous shrub.

Good for A specimen in small yards, mixes well with perennials.

Deer resistant? Yes.

Care Remove one of the oldest branches low down after flowering. Mulch in fall.

Hardiness USDA Zone 4-8.

Height 3-5ft.

Buy Spiraea nipponica ‘Snowmound ’from Nature Hills.

Spiraea prunifolia

A tough, twiggy and undemanding shrub with fully double white buttons lining the branches in spring, with the bonus of yellow and orange fall foliage color. One of the plants that survives neglect on abandoned homesteads, so will survive less than ideal care in the garden.

Type Deciduous shrub.

Good for Poor soil, inexperienced gardeners. The only variety with dainty double flowers.

Deer resistant? Yes.

Care After flowering, cut out a piece of the oldest growth low down on the plant and remove any dead wood. Mulch in fall.

Hardiness USDA Zone 4-9.

Height 4-8ft.

Buy Spiraea prunifolia from Nature Hills

Spiraea thunbergii Mellow Yellow (‘Ogon’)

The bright golden-yellow foliage retains its color all through the season without turning green - even in the south. Its clusters of white flowers open in early spring, before most other varieties.

Type Deciduous shrub.

Good for Early season floral impact, all summer foliage color.

Deer resistant? Yes

Care Prune as the flowers fade to encourage the brightest summer growth. Mulch in fall.

Hardiness USDA Zone 4-8.

Height 4-5ft.

Spiraea x vanhouttei

First grown in the mid 1800s and still going strong, clusters of white flowers line up alternately along graceful branches in mid to late spring on plants that may spread wider than high.

Type Deciduous shrub.

Good for Dramatic spring specimen, a good host for a summer clematis.

Deer resistant? Yes.

Care Remove one or two of the oldest shoots after flowering to encourage vigorous new growth from the base. Mulch in fall.

Hardiness USDA Zone 3-8.

Height 6-8ft.

Buy Spiraea x vanhouttei from Nature Hills.

FAQs

Why have the flowers on my spiraea changed color?

Older varieties of spiraea with flat heads of pink flowers sometimes change to white – and white flowered varieties sometimes change to pink. Occasionally, you’ll even see flat flowerheads in both colors on the same branch. It just happens, and golden leaved varieties may change to green.

This is mainly a problem with old varieties such as ‘Anthony Waterer’, so go for modern varieties such as those in the Double Play Series.

There are so many benefits to having a spiraea in your yard, not least this shrub's low maintenance nature and tolerance to extremes of temperature. Every yard should have one. You can discover more flowering shrub inspiration in our expert guide.