for September, 1920 



307 



Hardy Spireas 



ARBORUM AMATOR 



OF all of the hardy ornamental flowering shrubs 

 none give greater general satisfaction than the 

 Spireas. They are of easy culture, very florifer- 

 ous, and their foliage as well as their flowers is pretty. 

 Furthermore, if we make a careful selection of sj)ecies, 

 one or more of these will be in bloom each month from 

 April to November. Indeed one or two species bloom 

 periodically throughout the Summer and Autumn under 

 proper culture. Again they are adapted to many uses in 

 both small and large landscape work. Lastly their com- 

 parative immunity from disease and insects commends 

 them strongly to our favor. 



Spireas belong to the botanical order Rosacea:, of 

 which the Rose, Hawthorn, Plum, Blackberry and Apple 

 are also members. They are natives of Asia, Europe and 

 America. Some species are hardy ; others, half-hardy, 

 and still others tender perennials. We will mention some 

 of the most desirable hardy species. 



Classification According to Flozi'cring Period. — Spi- 

 reas may be divided as regards their flowering period 

 into two classes, namely, the Chanurdryon group, the 

 members of which produce, umbels of white flowers from 

 April to June, and the Calospira and Spiraria groups, 

 whose panicles or corymbs of flowers, some white, others 

 pink, and still others crimson, continue to appear more or 

 less from June till mid-Autumn. The species and varie- 

 ties of the first group, though their flowering period is 

 comparatively short, make for the time a wonderfully 

 beautiful and showy display, which well repays for the 

 year's care of these. The members of the second group 

 have a much longer blooming period and some bloom re- 

 peatedly under careful culture. 



Foreign Species the Taller Growers — Spircca pru- 

 nifolia flore plena, though a native of China, was brought 

 by Dr. Siebold from Japan to Europe and thence into 

 the United States. Of all the Spring-blooming Spireas 

 this is easily one of the most valuable. In form it is 

 bushy and it attains a height of five to ten feet. In May 

 its pretty, white, double flowers are produced in great 

 numbers, the entire height of its slender, graceful 

 branches. The foliage, too, of this species puts on a 

 beautiful orange color in Autumn. This Spirea has been 

 highly recommended for seaside planting, as it appears 

 to be benefited by proximity to the salt water. 



Spircca Thunbergii, a native of Japan, grows from 

 three to six feet high ; thrives in almost any location and 

 is very hardy. When it is closely covered in Spring with 

 white blooms, it presents a marvelously beautiful sight. 

 The pretty bronze and golden tints which its foliage as- 

 sumes in Autumn gives this Spirea an increased value. 

 When selecting shrubs for planting, we too often fail to 

 give preference in our choice to those which carry well 

 into the Autumn a foliage which puts on pleasing shades 

 of color as well as produce pretty flowers in Summer. 



Spircea Van Honttei has a spreading form and grows 

 from four to six feet high. Though of comparatively 

 late introduction from Japan, a country from which w-e 

 have received many of our best shrubs, it has justly 

 achieved great popularity. In May its white flowers ap- 

 pear in great profusion. 



Spircca Rccz'csiana is considered by many the most 

 beautiful of the genus Spircca. It is hardy south of New 

 York, but farther north requires some Winter protection. 

 This species comes from China. Its large blooms of 

 purest white appear in June. 



Tlic Dzi.'arfcr Species. — There are several Spireas of 

 low growth. Spircca cana attains a height of no more 

 than two feet, and forms a rounded bush as broad as it 

 is high. This Spirea is a native of the Croatian Alps, 

 growing there in dry, bare, rocky locations. For this 

 reason it is very suitable for planting in rockeries, and 

 is much used in England for that purpose. It is ex- 

 tremely floriferous, carrying its small white flowers along 

 its stem as well as its branches. Furthermore its small 

 leaves, grayish and indeed sometimes almost white, at 

 once draw atttention to this charming little shrub. 



Spircca decunibcns is the dwarfest of all Spireas. It 

 has a procumbent form and grows only about six inches 

 high. In June its white flowers appear. This Spirea is 

 admirable for planting in rockeries. 



Spireas have small alternate leaves, usually simple, but 

 in a few cases pinnate. Spircca trilobata is an exception; 

 this species has three lobed leaves. A native of the Al- 

 satian Alps, it reaches a height of only two feet. In 

 May it is well covered with corymbs of small white 

 flowers. 



Another small Spirea, but a little taller than trilobata 

 is Spircca arguta, a relative of Spircca Thunbergii, and 

 like it coming from Japan. This Spirea has slender 

 branches, which are covered in May with an abundance 

 of pearl-white flowers. This species thrives well in the 

 South and West, and is also hardy in the North. 



Later Flozttcring Species. — The Spireas which we have 

 mentioned thus far all bear white flowers and bloom only 

 once in a season and in the Spring months.. 



Spircca Bumalda not only in its entire make-up is a 

 handsome shrub, but is all the more valuable because it 

 bears beautiful pink flowers which begin to appear in 

 mid-Summer and continue to appear until late Autumn, 

 when few shrubs are in bloom. This Spirea is a vigorous 

 grower, yet reaches a height of only two to three feet. 

 It is an excellent border shrub and can be used in beds 

 in.stead of such tender plants as Salvias and Geraniums, 

 having the advantage of permanency. 



Spircca Anthony IVaterer, said to be a variety of Bu- 

 malda, came to us from England. Its bright crimson 

 flowers, in larger heads than those of Bumalda, appear 

 in June, and if the withered flowers are removed, others 

 follow until late .\utumn. Attaining a height of two to 

 three feet only, this Spirea is excellent for making a low 

 hedge and for groups and beds. 



Spircca Lindleyana is a native of the Himalayas. The 

 pinnate leaves of this species make it distinct from most 

 others. Its value is enhanced by the fact that its white 

 flowers are produced in Se])tember. Even when planted 

 so far North that it is killed to the ground in Winter, 

 flowers will be produced next season on the strong 

 Spring growth. 



Spircca Callosa and its variety alba, the former bearing 

 pink and the latter white flowers, were introduced into 

 this country from China by Mr. Fortune, and the variety 

 alba is sometimes called 'T'ortune's Dwarf.'' These 

 Spireas arc useful for outlining paths and for low orna- 

 mental hedges. Alba remains in bloom for a consider- 

 able period of time. 



Natiz'c Species. There are several native Spireas, 

 which, though worthy of cultivation, are inferior to the 

 foreign sorts, .\mong these are Spircra tomcnfosa, com- 

 monly called Steeple Bush because of the .shape of its 

 (Continued on page 310) 



