Goldmound Spirea

Spiraea japonica ‘Goldmound’ Overview Uses: Low hedges, mass plantings, edging, and mixed borders. Benefits: Bright golden-yellow leaves light up the garden from spring to fall on a neat, low mound. Clusters of pink flowers appear in late spring into summer and draw butterflies. Easy, tough, and deer resistant. USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–8 Sun: Full Sun Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub Growth Habit: Mounding — low and neat. Bloom Color: Pink Foliage Color: Golden Yellow Mature Height: 2–3 feet Mature Width: 3–4 feet Bloom Season: Spring, Summer Growth Rate: Moderate Summary A low mound of gold that keeps a bed bright from spring to frost. Goldmound is grown first for its foliage. The leaves come in bright golden-yellow in spring and keep a warm gold tone through the season, so the plant reads as a pool of light at the front of a border, along a walk, or against dark evergreens and purple-leaf shrubs. In late spring and early summer, flat clusters of pink flowers sit on top of the gold. It is a cheerful, old-fashioned combination, and butterflies and bees work the flowers through the bloom period. The plant stays low and neat, forming a mound about two to three feet tall and a little wider. That size makes it a natural for edging, low hedges and mass plantings, and because it blooms on new wood, it can be cut back hard each spring without losing a season of flowers. Deer tend to leave it alone. Care Goldmound Spirea Care Plant in full sun. Sun keeps the foliage its brightest gold; in shade the leaves fade toward lime green and flowering drops off. In very hot climates, a little afternoon shade can prevent the leaf edges from browning. It grows in most well-drained soils and is not particular about pH. Avoid spots that stay wet. Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season. Established plants handle ordinary dry spells, though a deep soak during long droughts keeps the foliage fresh. Feeding is rarely necessary. If you like, apply a slow release fertilizer once in early spring. Prune in late winter or early spring, before new growth starts, by cutting the plant back by up to half. It flowers on the current season's growth, so this does not cost you any bloom. Shearing off the faded flower clusters in summer tidies the plant, often brings a light second flush of flowers and fresh gold leaves, and keeps it from setting seed. Size What Size is the Goldmound Spirea for Sale Online? Our Goldmound Spirea ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants ship dormant or near dormant in the off-season, so they may arrive with few or no leaves. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us. How Large Does Goldmound Spirea Grow? Expect about 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide at maturity, in a low, rounded mound. Space plants about 3 feet apart for a continuous low hedge or edging. Additional Information What are some common names for this plant? It is most often sold as Goldmound spirea, and the species is commonly called Japanese spirea or Japanese meadowsweet. Why are my leaves turning green? The gold color depends on sun. Plants in shade, and older leaves in midsummer heat, shift toward lime green. Give it a full-sun spot, and shear it lightly after the first bloom to bring on a fresh flush of bright new foliage. Is Japanese spirea invasive? The species can self-seed, and it appears on invasive plant lists in some eastern states where it has spread into fields and woodland edges. Removing the spent flower clusters before they set seed keeps your plant from spreading. If you prefer a seedless option with similar color and size, look at Double Play Doozie® Spirea, which is sterile. Is it deer resistant? Yes. Deer generally pass over spireas, and Goldmound is a dependable choice for yards with regular deer traffic, though no plant is completely deer proof when food is scarce. Browse more in our Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens and Shrubs & Bushes.