Looking for spirea

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ehbraun State College, PA Mar 21, 2012

hi! I'm looking for a small spirea, no more than 3 or 4 feet high and wide, white flowers that bloom for a long time (not early spring), and darker leaves. I'd prefer something with interesting fall color, and a neat habit. I really like the bridal veil look, with profuse flowers. Nothing fuzzy looking... Any hints? I'm having a hard time sorting the varieties out on line. I need a low maintenance plant! Thanks,

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Mar 22, 2012

If you want a Spiraea that blooms longer than just spring you probably want to look at one of the Spiraea x bumalda/Spiraea japonica cultivars http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=spiraea&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=bumalda&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&searcher%5Bgrex%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search Not sure if there are any with dark leaves, and most of them have pinkish flowers rather than white, and they're not the bridal veil look (although they do flower profusely). With them, you can deadhead when the blooms fade and they'll get a 2nd flush of blooms--I do this and mine bloom for most of the summer.

Otherwise I think you might be best off considering other types of plants besides Spiraea...Buddleia is one I can think of that might have more of the look you're going for on the flowers--'White Ball' stays compact and has white flowers and can bloom all summer http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/78727/ No dark leaves on them...if you want that you might consider ninebark (Physocarpus) http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=physocarpus&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&searcher%5Bgrex%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search There are several cultivars with darker leaves, and they have white flowers (although the shape of the flower clusters is more similar to the Spiraea japonica vs the bridal veil spirea). I've never grown these so I don't know how long the bloom period is.

Post #9052562
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carolmo Olathe, KS(Zone 5a) Mar 26, 2012

Thor 4'x4' is supposed to have white flowers, green foliage, yellow fall coloring.

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