Spiraea, also known as the May Bush (as this is when it flowers in the northern hemisphere) is a hardy shrub that’s covered in masses of beautiful white or pink flowers during spring. Growing to around 2m tall, spiraea looks fantastic as part of a mixed shrub garden and also when used as a hedge. It’s semi-deciduous in warmer areas and deciduous in cool zones.


How to grow spiraea in a garden

  1. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Enrich the soil with Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed.  If the soil is heavy or clay-based, to help improve the drainage add gypsum first and fork into the soil.
  2. Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.
  3. Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Water in well with Yates Thrive Natural Seaweed Tonic to help reduce transplant shock and promote root growth.
  4. Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, woodchip or pea straw, keeping it away from the trunk.
  5. Water deeply, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions.
  6. Feed in autumn and spring with Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food to promote strong root development, healthy leaf growth and lots of spring flowers. TIP: For an added boost, apply Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.

     

Growing tips

  • Prune spiraea after flowering to help keep the bush tidy and compact.
  • Grows well in most climates.
 
 
 

More Plants

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Dwarf Pōhutukawa (Tahitian Pohutukawa) is a fantastic flowering shrub or small tree ideal for use as a feature plant, hedge or screen.

Daphne

Daphne is an evergreen shrub with glossy green leaves and beautifully fragrant flowers in shades of white and pink. Grow in the garden or in pots.

Smoke Bush

Smoke Bush is an ideal shrub to add a splash of foliage colour to gardens. It provides year-round seasonal interest and looks fabulous in both gardens and pots.

Picea

Piceas, or Spruces, are evergreen coniferous trees from the Pinaceae family with a lovely conical shape, needle-like leaves and ornate pendulous cones.

Recommended products

Yates Thrive Natural Seaweed Tonic

A 100% bull kelp seaweed tonic. Great for improving plant resistance and protection against pests, drought and frosts -also reduces transplant shock.