The first spar shows its overhanging, panicle-like white or pink to purple flowers as early as April. Depending on the type of Spiraea planted, the flowering period of the deciduous shrub lasts until autumn. Although the spar sheds its leaves in winter, it also adorns the garden in the cold season due to its dense growth. Thanks to their undemanding care, the member of the rose family offers beginners among the hobby gardeners a furious start to their new leisure activities. The sparrow bush also enables experienced gardening enthusiasts to shine through a well-tended, lush blooming plant, even if there is little time available.
Table of Contents
Care and location
Among the around 80 species of Spiraea, there is a suitable wood for almost every location in the garden. The stature heights extend over a range between 20 cm high dwarf shrubs for the small garden and the tub up to 300 cm high large shrubs, which are excellently suited for cultivation as a flowering hedge, in the rock garden, in the roof garden, in the tub or in an imposing solitary position . The spar is planted either in spring or in autumn.
- Sunny to partially shaded location.
- Thrives on all cultivated garden soils.
- Water regularly in the first year of standing.
- Water adult Spiraea only in case of prolonged drought.
- Bark mulch keeps the potting soil moist.
- Fertilization only required in a shady location.
- As a general rule, do not fertilize any more from June onwards.
Given the frugality of the spar, it is hardly surprising that it is also largely resistant to diseases and pests.
To cut
The flowering bush accepts any pruning measure without complaint. This is a good thing, because some varieties develop a rather expansive habit, which sometimes prompts gardening enthusiasts to use garden shears or hedge shears several times a year. The following pruning methods are commonly used on the sparrow shrub:
Vase cut
The flowering branches invite you to cut them and use them for decoration in the vase. It should be taken into account that they are cut when they are fully in bloom, because their flower buds do not open in the vase.
Clearance and preservation cut
The flowering time determines the time for the annual clearing cut. Spring flowers, such as bridal spar, are cut immediately after flowering. The summer bloomers, like the summer spears, are only trimmed in the following spring shortly before budding. The time period may vary; the procedure for this cutting measure is always the same:
- Cut away all the withered branches.
- Cut off thin, weak shoots at the base.
- Cut sick and frost-damaged branches into healthy wood.
- Cut three to four year old twigs near the ground.
- Eliminate inward shoots.
- Cut off one of the crossing branches.
- Always cut just under (5 mm) and diagonally above a bud.
- Trim all other shoots by a third or half.
- Do not carry out the spring pruning in frosty conditions.
- Always use sharp cutting tools.
- Cut the twigs smoothly and do not squeeze them.
- Immediately dispose of clippings on the compost.
It is important to note that no shoot stumps remain on the sparaceous bush, because such wounds open the door to fungi and pests on the naturally resistant plant. Basically, a strong pruning promotes the sprouting of stronger branches, albeit in smaller numbers. In contrast, a weak conservation pruning means that numerous young shoots develop, but these grow shorter and less robust.
Taper cut
If the sparaceous shrub is not cut every year, the hobby gardener accepts that what is actually still a young wood will grow old. There is simply not enough light getting to the inner area of the spar. The result is that the flowering shrub loses its vitality, becomes bald from below and the branches, which are naturally bent anyway, grow wider. Once such a stage has been reached, only a radical rejuvenation cut will help. All twigs are cut off up to 20 cm above the ground. If the Spiraea has still produced some healthy new shoots with its last vigor, the rejuvenation cut is made to the level of the lowest young shoot. Anyone who cannot get used to such an uncompromising solution can carry out the rejuvenation cut over several years.
Hedge cutting
Flowering hedges made of spar bushes look playful, romantic and less strict than an evergreen hedge. In view of the cut tolerance of the wood, gardening enthusiasts are free to shape them into a loose or accurately symmetrical design. As with all pruning measures, the flowering time determines when the hedge trimmer is used. In addition, the following principles apply:
- The trapezoidal shape of the hedge prevents balding.
- A slope of 10 cm to 20 cm is ideal.
- Cut off too long and diseased shoots.
- Do not cut in frost or under blazing sun.
- If necessary, trim any protruding branches after a few months.
In this case, it is not just the flowering phase that determines when the hedge is cut, but legal requirements must be observed. To protect the breeding birds, which like to nestle in hedges, the federal states imposed embargo periods. From March 1st to September 30th, only light maintenance cuts are allowed. A rejuvenation cut or even the complete disposal of a hedge is prohibited during this time and is punishable by heavy fines. In addition to this basic rule, the federal states and municipalities have in some cases issued additional provisions about the content of which responsible gardening enthusiasts inform themselves in good time.
Species and varieties
The spar does not demand much from the gardener in terms of care, but is spoiled for choice in view of the large range of beautiful species and varieties. Some of the most popular species and cultivars are presented below to aid decision-making:
Spear bushes blooming in spring:
Spring spar (Spiraea thunbergii)
- Height of growth 100 cm to 150 cm
- reinweiße Doldenblüten
- Flowering period April to May
- shade compatible
- well suited for buckets
Bridal muscle (Spiraea arguta)
- Height of growth 150 cm to 200 cm
- Flower dream in white
- Flowering period April to May
- perfectly suited as a specimen and hedge plant
- blooms on last year’s wood
Splendid muscle (Spiraea vanhouttei)
- Height of growth 200 cm to 300 cm
- numerous white, semicircular umbellate flowers
- Flowering period from late May to late June
- excellent hedge plant
- undemanding and tolerant of lime
White panicle ‘Grefsheim’ (Spiraea cinerea ‘Grefsheim’)
- Height of growth 150 cm to 200 cm
- up to 60 cm long, white panicles of flowers
- Flowering period from mid-April to late May
- Poet Buschiger Habitus
- forms numerous, overhanging branches
Birkenblättriger Spierstrauch (Spiraea betulifolia ‚Pall‘)
- Growth height up to 120 cm
- bright red flowers slowly change to white
- Flowering period May to June
- drives out late
- red-brown shoots in winter
Veitchs Spierstrauch (Spiraea veitchii)
- Growth height up to a maximum of 300 cm
- has many white, wheel-shaped flowers
- Flowering time from May to July
- Also thrives in sandy-loamy soils
- hardy to -23 ° Celsius
Karpaten Spierstrauch (Spiraea media)
- Height of growth 100 cm to 200 cm
- abundance of flowers in white
- Flowering period May to June
- extremely hardy to -35 ° Celsius
Himalayan Spierstrauch (Spiraea arcuata)
- Growth height up to 100 cm
- impresses with its large, round pink flowers
- Flowering period May to July
- suitable for roof gardens
- hardy to -18 ° Celsius
Kahler Spierstrauch (Spiraea gemmata)
- Height of growth 120 cm to 180 cm
- white flowers
- Flowering period May to June
- wonderful orange autumn colors
- hardy to -29 ° Celsius
Henrys Spierstrauch (Spiraea henryi)
- Height between 100 cm and 300 cm
- brilliant white umbrella clusters
- particularly early flowering April to May
- also tolerates full sun
Plum-leaved Spierstrauch (Spiraea prunifolia)
- Growth height up to 200 cm
- thrives twice as wide as it is tall
- double white flower umbels
- early flowering from March
- hardy to -23 ° Celsius
Summer flowering Spiraea varieties:
Kolbenspiere Triumpfhans’ (Spiraea billardii Triumphans’)
- Growth height up to 200 cm
- pink, conical flowers up to 20 cm long
- Flowering period June to July
- tightly upright habit
Japanese shrub spar (Spiraea nipponica)
- Height of growth 150 cm to 200 cm
- creamy white flower umbels
- upright branches with overhanging tips
- Flowering period June to July
- decorative foliage color in autumn
Rosenspiere (Spiraea japonica ‚Froebelii‘)
- Growth height up to 100 cm
- purple flowers
- Flowering period June to August
- bronze-colored leaves slowly turn green
- in autumn the leaves turn deep red
Summer spear ‘gypsy blood’ (Spiraea bumalda ‘gypsy blood’)
- Growth height up to 120 cm
- dark red umbels
- Flowering period June to August
- extremely easy to cut
- well suited for extensive planting
Douglas Spierstrauch (Spiraea douglasii)
- Height of growth 100 cm to 200 cm
- becomes up to three times wider than it is tall
- purple flowers
- Flowering period June to August
- attractive autumn colors
Japanese sparrow bush (Spiraea nipponica Maxim. ‘Surface filler’)
- Growth height up to 140 cm
- persistent, white flowers
- Flowering period June to August
- lives up to its name
- strongly sprouting and branching
Kalkbewohnender Spierstrauch (Spiraea calcicola)
- Height of growth 100 cm to 150 cm
- pink umbels
- Flowering period June to August
- particularly compatible with lime
- hardy to -29 ° Celsius
Filziger Spierstrauch (Spiraea tomentosa)
- Height of growth 120 cm
- decorative purple flowers
- Flowering period July to September
- hardy to -40 ° Celsius
The dwarf shrubs among the spar shrubs:
Rote Sommerspiere ‚Anthony Waterer‘ (Spiraea bumalda ‚Anthony Waterer‘)
- Height of growth 60 cm to 100 cm
- ruby red flowers in panicles
- Flowering period July to September
- decorative small shrub with variegated foliage
- flowers on annual wood
Weiße Zwergspiere ‚Albiflora‘ (Spiraea japonica ‚Albiflora‘)
- Growth height 50 cm to 80 cm
- up to 7 cm wide, white panicles
- Flowering period July to August / September
- delicate habit
- unusual slow growing
Gelbe Zwergspiere (Spiraea japonica ‚Golden Princess‘)
- Height of growth 40 cm to 50 cm
- pink flowers and yellow foliage
- Flowering period June to July
- eye-catching eye-catcher in every garden
- suitable as a decorative ground cover
- extremely drought tolerant variety
Rosa Zwergspiere (Spiraea japonica ‚Little Princess‘)
- Height of growth 45 cm to 50 cm
- reddish-purple umbellate flowers up to 4 cm wide
- Flowering period June to July
- lush green foliage turns yellow in autumn
- annual growth of about 5 cm
Japanese shrub spar (Spiraea japonica ‘Darts Red’)
- Growth height up to a maximum of 50 cm
- Crimson-red, lush flowers
- Flowering period July to August / September
- beautiful border
Birch-leaved spar ‘Tor’ (Spiraea betulifolia ‘Tor’)
- Height of growth 40 cm to 50 cm
- becomes up to 110 cm wide
- many white flower umbels
- Flowering period June to July
- beautiful brown-red autumn colors
Sommerspiere ‘Goldflamme’ (Spiraea bumalda Burvenich ‘Goldflame’)
- Growth height 50 cm to 70 cm
- purple-colored umbels change color to rose-red
- Flowering period July to August / September
- bright red autumn colors
Japanese dwarf spar (Spiraea japonica L. ‘Nana’)
- Height of growth 30 cm to 40 cm
- numerous dark pink flowers
- Flowering period July to August
- a particularly versatile dwarf wood
- black-brown shoots in winter
Spars for rock gardens:
Japanese Zwergspiere (Spiraea japonica L. ‘Bullata’)
- Growth height 20 cm to 30 cm
- dark pink to light red flowers
- quite weak
- Flowering period July to September
- not completely hardy
Graufilziger Spierstrauch (Spiraea cana)
- Height of growth 30 cm to 45 cm
- beautiful white-gray umbrella flowers
- Flowering period May to June
- extremely hardy to -29 ° Celsius
Carnation Spiraea (Spiraea decumbens)
- Height about 25 cm
- prostrate growth habit
- white panicles of flowers
- Flowering period May to June
- also suitable for heather gardens
Conclusion
The Spierstrauch is spot on for hobby gardens of any style, because whatever location it is assigned to; it will fill it with a lush display of flowers. At the same time, the spar scores with grateful unpretentiousness, so that even gardening enthusiasts who have to be stingy with their time with every free minute do not have to forego the joy that the sight of the decorative flowering bush prepares. Only the annual cutting should not be missed. Then the Spiraea stays in perfect shape and enriches the garden for many years.
