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The Perennial Garden: Spiræa

Astilbe, Spiræa. Spiræa is also the name given to a large group of flowering shrubs which is entirely distinct in its habits of growth and in its bloom from the Spiræa discussed here. These plants, unlike the shrubs by this name, die down each fall like other perennials and the roots live through winter and send up new growth each spring. They are rather tall growing and have handsome dark green foliage; the flowers resemble feathery plumes and come in white, pink and red, giving effective masses of bloom during June and July. They will thrive in sun or partial shade and are easily grown in any well-prepared flower bed. Their chief requirement is moisture and the bloom is greatly benefited by artificial watering supplied in abundance when the weather is dry, a few weeks before bloom.

Propagation is mostly by division which may be done in spring or fall. Seeding is slow and difficult, it takes from 2 to 3 weeks for the seed to germinate and the young plants will not flower until the second year.

Varieties. Rose Pearl and Queen Alexandra, shell pink. Gruno, salmon pink, Salland, red, Ceres, rose pink, Moerheimi, white. Filipendula, white with fine foliage, not so effective as other varieties.