SPIRJEA. 299 



as it throws up its suckers in great profusion, and makes itself 

 quite too common ; otherwise it would be a desirable plant for 

 the shrubbery. 



S. bella. Pretty Spiraea. This is a dwarf species, about 

 three feet high, producing its beautiful pink flowers in little, 

 dense hemispherical heads, in June ; a neat little shrub, worthy 

 of a place in every collection. 



S. Reevesii. Mr. Reeves' Spiraea. We consider this one 

 of the most elegant and desirable species of the whole family. 

 The flowers are of a snowy whiteness, produced in clusters, the 

 whole length of its graceful, arching stems, which, intermingled 

 with the handsome foliage, produce a pleasing effect. The 

 shrub is delicate in its growth, about four feet high, and flowers 

 in June. It is propagated by cuttings, layers, and suckers. 



S. airifolia. This is a very delicate species we have in our 

 collection, with exceedingly graceful, airy-like foliage, with 

 small heads of white flowers ; two or three feet high. 



S. Icevigata. Smooth-leaved Spiraea. This species has 

 smooth lanceolate leaves, without serrature or notch. The 

 flowers are white, in compound racemes, somewhat fragrant. 

 It is not very showy, but, in a collection, makes up a variety ; 

 about two or three feet high. 



S. argentia. Silver-striped-leaved Spiraea. This very del- 

 icate species has variegated leaves, with graceful, airy foliage, 

 similar in its habits to airifolia ; flowers nearly the same. 



S. trttobata. Three-lobed-leaved Spiraea. The leaves of 

 this species are bluntly three-lobed, and toothed, or notched. 

 The flowers are white, in stalked umbels, about three or four 

 feet high. 



Take the species together, we do not know any genus of 

 plants where the foliage is so diversified. When grouped 

 together, they make a fine appearance, either in flower or 

 foliage. There are many other species that have not come 

 under our observation, which, no doubt, are as valuable for the 

 shrubbery as those described. 



