Sunday, January 27, 2013

Plant Pick: Spiraea japonica MAGIC CARPET

Yesterday I mentioned that I’d been out trimming my Spirea. To be accurate I should have said Spiraea japonica. The particular variety I have is called Magic Carpet which has an RHS AGM.

This plant contains a range of very strong colours throughout the season so isn’t for the faint hearted. From bright red and green of new leaves to the almost lurid pink flowers it produces in mid summer.

[Note: the first 2 pictures are not of the Magic Carpet variety, but have the same visual impact.]

Spiraea japonica 'Little Rocket'

What I really love about this plant other than its dramatic effect is how easy it is to maintain. Trimming it takes about 10 minutes every year or two. All you need to do is to trim it back to the size and shape you want it to be in. Just remember that it will put on about 8in/20cm of growth all round before mid-summer.

Spirea 'Lemon Princess' {spiraea japonica}

Remember to do your trimming in December or January before the new growth gets too far along. I gave mine it’s winter pruning yesterday. It’s looking a bit sad for it, but I know it will come back strongly this summer.

Spiraea japonica Magic Carpet by Mark Baker

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