Spiraea x bumalda - Bumald Spirea (Rosaceae) ------Spiraea x bumalda is a relatively compact, small diameter flat-topped, fine-textured showy shrub that has multi-season appeal. Characteristics of inflorescences that cover the canopy Bumald Spirea include vibrant spring and summer Fruits foliage, either green or, more frequently, alternative -clusters of fine-textured brown fruits, pedicels, and warm colors, beautiful flat-topped inflorescences of peduncles occur above the foliage, not ornamental carmine, pink, or mauve, in late spring and early -fruit heads persist throughout the winter into the summer, and sometimes, good autumn color. next season Twigs FEATURES -stems with subtle ridges are relatively unbranched, Form upright or radiating from the central clump, of bright -small ornamental shrub tan color on the new growth, maturing to dark brown -slowly maturing to 3' tall x 4' wide on the older stems -rounded clump growth habit Trunk -slow growth rate (although basal suckers have a -not applicable medium growth rate) USAGE Function -entranceway, specimen, raised planter, border, facer, group planting, or mass planting shrub Texture -fine texture in foliage and when bare -thick density in foliage and when bare Assets -very urban tolerant (especially to heat, drought, and poor soils) -changing seasonal foliage colors for most cultivars attractive, long-lasting, flat-topped inflorescences in late spring and early summer Culture Liabilities -full sun to partial shade -may spread slightly beyond its originally intended -very urban tolerant and adaptable to poor soils, clay space (this can be remedied by heaving shearing or soils, dry soils, soils of various pH, heat, drought, and moderate to heavy pruning, or it can be an asset in light shearing or heavy pruning group or mass plantings allowed to naturalize) -propagated primarily by rooted stem cuttings Habitat -no serious disease or pest problems -Zones 3 to 8 -abundantly available in container form -both parents (Spiraea albiflora x Spiraea japonica) -takes well to a light shearing after flowering, in are native to Japan order to deadhead, restore the foliage effect, and encourage a light rebloom later in the season SELECTIONS -foliage color variants must be placed in full sun to Alternates achieve their full potential with intense foliage -common and dependable standard-issue shrubs colors; otherwise, placement in partial sun to partial (Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea 'Crimson shade causes the foliage to gravitate towards a lime Pygmy', Euonymus alata 'Compacta', Syringa patula green or light green color 'Miss Kim', Taxus x media 'Densiformis', Thuja Foliage occidentalis 'Smaragd', etc.) -alternate, ovate, serrated, having a short petiole, and -shrubs with good alternative foliage color (Berberis variable in leaf color, depending on cultivar thunbergii var. atropurpurea, Cotinus coggygria, -usually emerging as a bronzed or reddish color, and Euonymus fortunei, Prunus x cistena, etc.) quickly transitioning to the color of choice for that -shrubs with late spring to early summer particular selection inflorescences (Itea japonica, Philadephus virginalis, -sport branches with altered color are common Spiraea japonica, etc.) -autumn color is often greenish-purple on green Cultivars – Variants – Related species cultivars, -many cultivars and complex hybrids exist, with new lavender-red to ones emerging yearly, and most are in the 3' x 3' orange-red on category; the 3 most common are: 'Gold Flame', and -S. x bumalda 'Anthony Waterer' - the old standard, yellowish green on with deep green foliage that initially emerges 'Gold Mound' bronzed, and having deep carmine to dark mauve Flowers inflorescences -light pink, deep -S. x bumalda 'Goldflame' - emergent foliage is a mauve, carmine, constant transition from red to copper to yellow- or dark lavender, orange to gold-medium green, then becoming orange- in late May and burgundy in autumn, with pink inflorescences early- to mid-June -Spiraea 'Gold Mound' - a more complex hybrid, (occasionally a with new foliage that is a vibrant yellow-green or second flush later lime-green that persists all summer, with shell-pink in the season) inflorescences -flowering on the new growth of the season, in 2-3"