510 
DECIDUOUS SHRUBS. 
THE SPIR^A. Spircea. 
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, 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 floribimda. — -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. 
Spircea callosa fortimii. — 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. 
Spiriea trilobata. — A 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 thimbergia. — 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. 
