We choose types and varieties of spirea for a summer cottage
Spirea is a flowering shrub used to decorate the garden. This plant can be roughly divided into two subspecies: summer-flowering spireas and shrubs with a spring flowering period. There are more than 300 types of summer-flowering spirea and 250 spring varieties. All of them differ in the shape of the shrub, as well as the color of flowers and leaves.
In the 19th century, two-color varieties of this shrub were bred. Gardeners can decorate their plots with purple, white, pink, red, yellow or orange spirea flowers. The only condition for obtaining a large number of peduncles is a constant soil moisture of 60%.
The most popular in our gardens are frost-resistant varieties of spirea, such as:
- spirea is oak-leaved;
- spirea sharp-toothed;
- spirea ashy.
Let's consider them in more detail.
Spirea variety oak-leaved
The bush of oak-leaved spirea reaches 1.5 m in height and up to 2 m in width. The flowering period of this variety begins in mid-May. Spirea throws out a large number of white flowers with five petals. The branches of the shrub tilt towards the ground, which makes it look like a small willow during flowering.
Oak-leaved spirea is an excellent honey plant that attracts bees, but insect pests are very fond of this plant. Therefore, during flowering, shrubs need to be sprayed with insecticidal preparations. Particular attention should be paid to young spirea bushes.
Spirea variety sharp-toothed
The sharp-toothed spirea is prized for its leaf shape. The shrub reaches 2 m in height and up to 1 m in diameter. spirea variety forms arched shoots with bright green carved leaves. The branches of the sharp-toothed spirea are used in floristry, making beautiful bouquets. This variety blooms in late May with small white flowers.
Sharp-toothed spirea does not tolerate late pruning, so old and diseased branches should be removed immediately after flowering, while the plant still has the strength to form new shoots.
Spirea variety ashy
Ash spirea is a frost-resistant variety. It can withstand long-term frosts up to -15ABOUTC. Shrub reaches 2.5 m in height. Its flowers are ash gray with bright yellow stamens. The flowering period begins in late May - early June and lasts until mid-August.
Below, the leaves of the ash spirea are covered with double gray spots. This is a varietal feature, not a disease. When the shrub grows old, the terry sheath grows together, and the reverse side of the leaf turns completely white.