Thunberg Spirea

Spiraea thunbergii

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

▲▼ mature shrubs in spring

▲▼ foliage

▲▼ flowers on golden-leaved cultivar

Location near campus: in center of Xeriscape Garden; the Xeriscape Garden is located at the northwest corner of National Avenue and Linwood, about 3/4 mile south of campus.

Spirea thunbergii:  Thunberg Spirea

• *    leaves alternate, deciduous, linear to lanceolate, 1-1.5” long and ¼ as wide, with tiny  marginal teeth; medium to pale yellow green in color; glabrous
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• *    stems slightly ridged, very slender, light to medium brown, slightly zig-zag
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• *    grows 3-5’ tall and wide, very fine-textured due to small, linear leaves and dense slender branches
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• *    axillary flowers are small and white about ¼” across all along branches prior to leaf emergence (formed on previous-season’s growth)
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• *    should be regularly pruned to ground, or at least older stems removed to keep the fine branching evident