Spiraea x vanhouttei Vanhoutte Spirea Rosaceae

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Habitat

result of cross between S. trilobata and S. cantoniensis
zone 3
Habit and Form

a deciduous, vase-shaped shrub
6' to 8' tall with a spread of up to 12'
branches arch to ground, making an open airy mounded habit
fast growth rate
fine texture


Summer Foliage

alternate leaf arrangement
simple small leaves
0.75" to 1.5" long
leaves have a pointed tip
3 to 5 lobes
irregular teeth cover margin
dark blue-green color


Autumn Foliage

some red coloring
not reliable


Flowers

white flowers
blooms April to May
flowers form on branch tips
flowers are borne in umbels with numerous individual flowers
umbels are 1" to 2" in diameter
very showy


Fruit

dry, brown follicles
hold through winter
not ornamentally significant
Bark

thin brown stems
glabrous
predominately branches from base
branches at 90 degree angles
buds held on stems at 90 degree angles
buds are divergent
Culture

full sun to light shade
prefers well-drained soil
transplant from container for best results
soil tolerant
extremely durable shrub
Landscape Use

for showy flowers
group or mass plantings
for border
for foundation plant
for texture


Liabilities

suckers
fireblight
leaf spot
powdery mildew
ID Features

white flowers are stem tips
brown follicles that is held through winter
thin brown stems
buds held at 90 degree angle from stems
branching pattern at 90 degrees
vase-shaped
lobed leaves with serrated margins
alternate leaf arrangement


Propagation

by softwood cuttings
by seed
Cultivars/Varieties

'Pink Ice' - Sometimes offered by specialty nurseries, this novelty plant offers young foliage that is splashed with pink and white. It may revert, plus the leaves usually mature to a uniform green by summer. The plant can reach 5' tall in time.

'Renaissance' - Very similar to the type species, this selection reportedly exhibits greater resistance to leaf ailments.

'Snow White' - This may be the best form, as it grows compactly to 5' and appears less prone to foliar disease. The dead blooms are self-cleaning and the foliage is larger and healthy green.

© Copyright Mark Brand, 1997-2001.