golden Thunberg's spirea
golden bridalwreath spirea
© Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks
© Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks
© Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks
This deciduous shrub is noted for its very early flowering time. wispy habit, and golden leaves. In late March and early April, before its leaves have unfurled, its slender branches are covered with dazzling white flowers borne in numerous clusters. Its feathery leaves emerge gold ("ogon" means gold in Japanese) and gradually change to bright green, creating a pleasing contrast with other, more stolid shrubs. In autumn its leaves turn bright orange and remain on the plant almost until Christmas in some years. Its twiggy, slender branches arch and flounce, giving golden Thunberg's spirea a uniquely soft textural quality.
Plant Type: shrub
Growth Habit: spreading
Foliage Type: deciduous
Plant Height (10-year): 3 ft. 6 in. (1.07 meters)
Plant Width/Spread (10-year): 3 ft. 6 in. (1.07 meters)
Plant Height-Mature: 5 ft. 0 in. (1.52 meters)
Plant Width-Mature: 5 ft. 0 in. (1.52 meters)
Hardiness: USDA Zones 5 to 8
Flower Color: white
Flowering Time: spring-summer
Sun/Light Exposure: full sun to light or open shade
Water Requirements: regular watering
Seasonal Interest: early spring flowers, golden foliage, & autumn color
Wildlife Associations: bees, butterflies
Great Plant Combinations:
Great Color Contrasts: burgundy, gold, purple
Great Color Partners: dark green, chartreuse, blue
This small spirea prefers full sun to light or open shade. Plant it in rich moist to well-drained soil, although it will tolerate clay if the drainage is adequate. Provide regular water to this small shrub to keep it looking its best through the summer. A few older stems can be pruned to the ground immediately after flowering every year. Alternatively, cut the entire shrub back to six to eight inches tall after it blooms every three or four years and allow it to regrow.
Text and photos ©2020 Great Plant Picks/Elisabeth Carey Miller Garden except where otherwise noted
Funded by the Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation, The Seattle Times, and Individual Donors
Administered by the Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden