Sorbaria kirilowii

RHS Plant Profile

Kirilow false spiraea

RHS 2002

Synonyms

Spiraea arborea
Spiraea assurgens
Sorbaria arborea
Sorbaria assurgens

Shrubs

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A vigorous, thicket-forming shrub with leaves to 30cm in length, composed of lance-shaped, toothed leaflets and, in mid and late summer, bearing terminal panicles to 40cm in length of small white flowers

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Rosaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Suckering
Genus: Sorbaria are large, deciduous suckering shrubs with attractive pinnate leaves and small, white, spiraea-like flowers borne in large terminal panicles in summer
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: China, Tibet

How to Grow

Cultivation

Best grown in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Useful for waterside plantings but neglected plants can rapidly form thickets when it would have the potential to become a nuisance

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings in mid-summer or propagate by seed sown in containers in a coldframe in autumn. Rooted suckers can be transplanted in winter or autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Low Maintenance

Pruning

Pruning group 2 or pruning group 6; sucker removal in winter

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free