Remember that bridal wreath spirea is not a native North American plant and might accidentally naturalize into wild areas.
Its most significant need is well-draining soil so the roots never sit in water.
Water the plants once a week during the summer whenever rainfall is less than 1 inch.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Keep the plants well-watered as they become establishedthat is, for the first entire growing season after planting them.
It thrives in climate conditions within its USDA hardiness zones (5b-8a).
It has no preference for humidity conditions.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Fertilizer
Add a 2-inch layer ofcompostover the soil under the shrub every spring.
Additional fertilizing is not necessary and may even reduce flowering.
If desired, the shrubs can be pruned for shape or size immediately after the spring flowering period.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Always use clean, sharp pruning shears.
This will open up the center of the shrub to sunlight to reinvigorate it.
Tips of branches can also be trimmed to control the shrub’s size.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
To do so:
Remember that it is technically illegal to propagate trademarked or patented cultivars.
If so, it should not be propagated in any way.
How to Grow Bridal Wreath Spirea From Seed
Although not common, seed propagation is possible.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Overwintering
These hardy shrubs generally require no winter protection against cold.
How Long Does Bridal Wreath Spirea Bloom?
Bridal wreath spirea blooms for about 10 days to two weeks.
skymoon13 / Getty Images
What Do Bridal Wreath Spirea Flowers Look and Smell Like?
Otherspireaspecies may have colored flowers (usually pinkor purple) but areS.
japonicaor Japanese spirea cultivars.
Picture of bridalwreath spirea (Spiraea prunifolia) in bloom.David Beaulieu
This plant doesn’t bloom more robustly if you fertilize it.
Excessive fertilizer will likely yield fewer flowers.
These shrubs bloom on the previous year’s wood, so they should be pruned immediately after they flower.
Stuart Blyth/Getty Images
Common Problems With Bridal Wreath Spirea
Bridal wreath spirea is an easy, mostly care-free plant.
But there are a couple of issues you may encounter.
Shaggy, Spindly Growth
This plant usually grows in a shaggy way.
But if you want an elegant, cascading plant, opt forS.
Nearby growth or a building’s shadow can affect its sun exposure.
Ensure the plant gets ample water, but its soil should not be too soggy.
The average shrubby size of bridal wreath spirea is 4 to 8 feet tall.
This shrub can happily live in a favorable location for many decades.
Hundred-year-old specimens are common and are plentiful around historical farmhouses across the Midwest and East.
However, when young, the shrubs can be susceptible to serious browsing by rabbits.
This shrub attracts butterflies and other pollinators during its bloom season.
Its dense growth habit and thorny protective stems make it a favorite nesting spot for small birds.
It grows to about 4 feet tall, flowers in summer, and is hardy to zone 3.
Japanese Spiraea.USDA National Invasive Species Information Center.
Dirr, Michael.Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, Stipes Publishing, 1998..
Dirr, Michael.Spiraea prunifolia.
Dirr’s Encyclopedia of Trees & Shrubs.
Timber Press, 2011.
