Japanese Spiraea 'Goldflame'

Japanese spiraea 'Goldflame' (Spiraea japonica 'Goldflame') is a small bonfire in the middle of a flower bed, and the name is no exaggeration at all. The young leaves open orange-red, in summer the bush turns bright yellow with greenish shimmer, and in autumn it takes on warm yellow-copper tones.

Plant it in the front row of a border, in low hedges, in containers on the terrace and in plantings for pollinators. The bush keeps to 0.9-1.2 m in height and width. Unlike the evenly golden 'Golden Princess', its foliage repaints itself each season and the flower corymbs are darker, pink-red.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: The flowers draw butterflies, and the shrub itself copes calmly with clay, slopes and smoky city air.
• Dimensions: At 10 years the bush holds 0.9-1.2 m tall and just as wide.
• Hardiness: Winters calmly - it takes down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4).
• Flowering: In June-July the bush is covered with pink-red flat corymbs up to 10-15 cm - bright, eye-catching flowering.
• Light: It needs full sun: in shade the colour transitions of the foliage disappear and it turns green.
• Soil: Takes any garden soil easily - moderately moist and well drained; it grows best on rich, moist loams.
• Watering: Watering is moderate; the cultivar is noted as standing up well to summer heat.
• Care: It flowers on the current year's shoots, so in spring cut the bush back to 15-20 cm from the ground.
• Landscape use: Striking in the front row of a border, in low hedges, containers and pollinator plantings.