Snowmound Spirea

Spiraea nipponica ‘Snowmound’ Overview Uses: Informal hedges, foundation plantings, mass plantings, and mixed borders. Benefits: In late spring, the gracefully arching branches are smothered in clusters of pure white flowers. Dark blue-green leaves keep it attractive the rest of the season. A dependable, old-fashioned favorite that is very cold hardy and easy to grow. USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–8 Sun: Full Sun Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub Growth Habit: Arching, Mounding — graceful and full. Bloom Color: White Foliage Color: Dark Blue-Green Mature Height: 3–5 feet Mature Width: 3–5 feet Bloom Season: Spring Growth Rate: Moderate Summary Arching branches so thick with white flowers in late spring that the whole shrub looks dusted with snow. Snowmound has been a garden standby for generations, and the bloom is the reason. In late spring, each arching branch is lined from end to end with small, rounded clusters of white flowers, turning the plant into a soft white mound that stands out from across the yard. After the flowers fade, it settles into a full, rounded shape about three to five feet tall and wide, with dark blue-green leaves that stay clean and fresh through summer. The graceful, fountain-like habit makes it a natural informal hedge, a backdrop for perennials, or a softening plant along a foundation. It comes through cold zone 4 winters without fuss, and deer rarely bother it, so it is a dependable choice for open, rural yards as well as town gardens. Care Snowmound Spirea Care Plant in full sun for the heaviest bloom. It tolerates light shade for part of the day, but flowering drops off as shade increases. It grows in a wide range of well-drained soils and is not particular about pH. Avoid spots where water stands for long periods. Water deeply once or twice a week through the first growing season while roots establish. Once settled, it handles normal dry spells, though a deep watering during extended drought keeps the foliage looking its best. Fertilizer is rarely needed. If growth is weak, a single application of slow release fertilizer in early spring is enough. Snowmound sets its flower buds on the previous year's growth, so prune right after the flowers fade, never in fall or early spring. Trim lightly to shape rather than shearing it into a ball, which hides the arching form. Every few years, cut a few of the oldest stems to the ground right after bloom to keep the plant full and flowering from the base. Size What Size is the Snowmound Spirea for Sale Online? Our Snowmound 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 Snowmound Spirea Grow? Expect about 3 to 5 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide at maturity, in a full, rounded mound of arching branches. Space plants about 4 feet apart for an informal hedge. Additional Information What are some common names for this plant? It is sold as Snowmound spirea or Snowmound Nippon spirea, after the species, which is commonly called Nippon spirea. How is it different from Vanhoutte spirea? Vanhoutte spirea, often called bridalwreath, is the familiar older white spring spirea, and it usually grows larger and looser. Snowmound gives a similar white display in late spring on a smaller, denser shrub with darker blue-green leaves, which makes it easier to fit into a foundation bed or a shorter hedge. Why didn't my Snowmound bloom this year? The most common cause is pruning at the wrong time. Because it flowers on last year's wood, cutting it back in fall, winter or early spring removes the buds. Too much shade is the other usual reason. Prune only right after flowering, and give it a sunny spot, and the bloom returns the following spring. Is it deer resistant? Yes. Deer generally leave spireas alone, and Snowmound is a dependable choice where browsing is a regular problem, though no plant is completely deer proof when food is scarce. Browse more in our Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens and Shrubs & Bushes.