2 days ago
Gardeners should swap hydrangeas for pretty plant which looks after itself
Hydrangeas, garden favourites due to their resilience and enduring blooms, are a no-brainer for enriching gardens in both pots and borders. However, these iconic plants do come with a catch.
While easily cultivated and long-flowering, hydrangeas demand ample hydration, so it's wise to maintain a water routine during summer and engage in mulching. Deadheading old flowers is also advised to encourage fresh blossoms.
Those desiring a low-upkeep choice might lean towards an "elegant shrub" offering an equally spectacular floral display as hydrangeas.
Farmingdale Observer highlights spiraea as such an option: sitting "sit proudly in flowerbeds, even in full sun, and ask for almost nothing in return".
This ornamental treasure, though understated, features "abundant flowering" and offers unmissable elegance, reports the Express.
Characterised by the Royal Horticultural Society as an "upright, deciduous shrub about 1.5m tall, with sharply-toothed dark green leaves to 12cm long", spiraea makes an excellent contribution to mixed border arrangements.
Its compatibility extends to cottage and wild gardens where its bowl-shaped, pink or white summertime blooms buzz with life. Spiraea's green foliage perseveres from spring through autumn, mirroring the attractive leaves of hydrangeas.
Yet, what gives spiraea the edge over its water-loving counterpart is its tenacity in dry soils.
Farmingdale has explained that Spiraea, once established, can withstand periods of drought without any trouble, even in the height of summer.
If left unwatered for two weeks, the flowers won't wilt; in fact, some spiraeas, such as Van Houtte Spiraea or Japanese Spiraea, will bloom again for several consecutive weeks, and sometimes even a second time if the faded blooms are pruned back, according to Farmingdale.
To get the most out of Spiraea, it's recommended to plant it in a sunny spot, but the shrub also tolerates partial shade. It might flower a bit less than in a sunny location, but it is very adaptable, especially to different soil conditions.
This flowering shrub is ideally placed near vegetables to attract pollinators that help increase harvests.
When to plant Spiraea
Gardener's World suggests that planting can be done while in full growth in spring or summer, provided the plants are watered regularly.
Always plant with the top of the rootball at the same depth as the soil level. Firm it into the soil and then water it thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots.
After a little watering for the first few weeks, Spiraea should root deeply and develop a self-sufficient root system to keep it thriving with minimal care.
But if you feel like giving it a bit of a boost, a little pruning just after the flowers have finished is all you need.
There are 80 to 100 species of Spiraea. They are native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere, with the greatest diversity in eastern Asia.
