Wednesday, May 29, 2013

GOLDFLAME SPIREA


Spiraea japonica 'Goldflame'
    Japanese Spirea

Type    Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range    4A to 8A
Height    24" to 36" / 60cm to 90cm
Spread    36" to 4' / 90cm to 1.20m
Growth rate    Average
Form    Rounded and spreading or horizontal
Exposure    Partial shade or partial sun to full sun
Persistence    Deciduous

Bloom Color    Pink
Bloom Time    Summer

The flowers are 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 slightly alkaline (less than 6.8 to 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color    Green, purple and yellow
Fall Color    Purple and red
This plant has attractive fall colors.

Culture Notes
Foliage emerges red and fades to light yellow and then green in warm climates. Flowers are not especially showy. Spirea 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 4 to 5-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. Some foliage emerges green and these can be removed to keep the plant in yellow foliage.

Planting and establishing shrubs


The 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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