Deciduous Shrub Of The Day

Spiraea japonica 'Magic Carpet'

Japanese Spirea

Type Shrub, groundcover, woody plant

Hardy range 5B to 7B

Height 12" to 36" / 30cm to 90cm

Spread 36" to 4' / 90cm to 1.20m

Growth rate Average

Form Rounded and spreading or horizontal

Exposure Full sun

Persistence Deciduous

Bloom Color Pink

Bloom Time Spring and Summer

The flowers are fragrant and very showy.

Environment This plant tolerates some drought.
This plant will grow in dry soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to neutral (less than 6.8 to 7.2) soil.

Leaf Color Green, purple and yellow
Fall Color Copper and yellow

This plant has attractive foliage.

Culture Notes 'Magic Carpet' (Patent # 9,363) grows best in full sun or high shifting shade. Plants receiving less than 4 or 5 hours of direct sun become thin and flower poorly. Plant on 3 to 4-foot centers to form a mass planting. As with other light colored-flowering plants, place in front of other green foliage plants or other dark background to show the best flower display. Spireas combine well with ornamental grasses and plants with large foliage. Remove spent seed heads and developing seed heads to improve the neat look of the plants. There appear to be no shoot reversions on this cultivar. Makes a tight ground cover with fabulous flowers.

Planting and establishing shrubsThe most common cause of young plant failure is planting too deep. Plant the root ball no deeper than it was in the nursery. In most instances, the root flare zone (point where the top-most root in the root ball originates from the trunk) should be located just above the landscape soil surface. Sometimes plants come from the nursery with soil over the root flare. If there is soil over this area, scrape it off. The planting hole should be at least twice the width of the root ball, preferably wider. In all but exceptional circumstances where the soil is very poor, there is no need to incorporate anything into the backfill soil except the loosened soil that came out of the planting hole. Never place ANY soil over the root ball. If a row or grouping of plants is to be installed, excavating or loosening the soil in the entire bed and incorporating organic matter enhances root growth and establishment rate.

Weed suppression during establishment is essential. Apply a 3-inch thick layer of mulch around the plant to help control weed growth. Keep it at least 10 inches from the trunk. If you apply it over the root ball, apply only a one or two inch layer. This allows rainwater and air to easily enter the root ball and keeps the trunk dry. Placing mulch against the trunk or applying too thick a layer above the root ball can kill the plant by oxygen starvation, death of bark, stem and root diseases, prevention of hardening off for winter, vole and other rodent damage to the trunk, keeping soil too wet, or repelling water. Regular irrigation through the first growing season after planting encourages rapid root growth, which is essential for quick plant establishment.

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