Spiraea × vanhouttei

RHS Plant Profile

Van Houtte's spiraea

Other common names

bridal wreath

Shrubs

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Vigorous semi-evergreen shrub about 2m tall, with arching branches and diamond-shaped, coarsely toothed, dark green leaves, blue-green beneath. Bowl-shaped white flowers in dense clusters to 5cm across, appear along the branches in early summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Sand, Loam

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Sand Loam

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

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–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): H6

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Rosaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Spiraea are deciduous shrubs, sometimes suckering, with simple leaves and short racemes, panicles or corymbs of small, 5-petalled white or pink flowers in spring or summer
Name Status: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained soil in full sun or light shade

Propagation

Propagate by softwood or semi-ripe cuttings in spring to late summer or hardwood cuttings in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Pruning group 2 for spiraeas flowering on previous years stems, in summer after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free but may be susceptible to honey fungus