510 DECIDUOUS SHRUBS. 



THE SPIRAEA. Spiraea. 



It is a curious fact that this native shrub, growing wild in num- 

 berless varieties all over the country, has but recently attracted 

 great attention as a garden shrub. Few families of shrubs vary so 

 widely in their forms, leaves, and flowers as the spiraea, and the 

 species and varieties recently brought into notice are so numerous 

 that we shall make no attempt to name them. The following list 

 of a dozen sorts it is believed will embrace the best characteristics 

 of the family, beginning with the smaller varieties : 



Spiraa callosa alba. A low r broad, compact bush, two to three 

 feet high. Flowers a dull white, in corymbs three inches in diame- 

 ter, from May to October and November. Foliage dense, and a 

 light green color. A French seedling from the following : 



Spircea floribunda. A low spreading bush, two to three feet 

 high. Flowers in spikes, white, changing to pale red ; July and 

 August. Foliage light green, and looks well after the flowering is 

 over. 



Spiraea callosa fortunii. An upright grower, apt to get bare of 

 leaves at the bottom, so as to need cutting back occasionally. 

 Height three to four feet. Flowers, in superb panicles, four to six 

 inches in diameter, of a bright red color; June to October. Fo- 

 liage opens a dull red color, and changes to purplish-green. 



Spircea oximea. A compact bush, spreading considerably 

 around the root by suckers. Height three to four feet. Flowers 

 in large terminal spikes, from June to October ; color bright rose 

 to deep red. Foliage light green. 



Spiraa trilobata.K very broad, oblate-headed, low shrub, with 

 branches spreading horizontally, and bearing flat clusters of white 

 flowers in May. When out of bloom it is a massy-foliaged low bush 

 of pleasing color and form. Height three to four feet, and much 

 greater breadth, forming a broad flat head when growing alone. 



Spircea thunbergia. This is a variety of the willow-leaved spi- 

 raeas, with light very small willowy leaves and white blossoms, about 

 the end of April. Noticeable for the extreme delicacy of its foliage 

 spray. 



