Spiraea nipponica 'Snowmound' (Snowmound Nippon Spiraea)

Michael's Opinion

A personal favourite of mine, Snowmound is beginning to fall from favour because it seems to have developed a habit of twig dieback in recent years. It produces long arching branches that are masked in delicate white blooms in late spring. It may be used as informal hedge. It can be use effectively as a landscape element to tie parts of the landscape design together or as an accent plant in the spring. 1.5 m in height.

Botanical Information

FamilyRosaceae
GenusSpiraea
Speciesnipponica
Cultivar'Snowmound'
CategoryWoody
TypeShrub (deciduous)
OriginDiscovered on the island of Shikoku, Japan.
Pronunciation

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone4 - 7
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone5
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH7
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-21 - (-15)
Temperature (°F)-5 - 5
Height2 m
Spread1 m
GrowthMedium
Flowering PeriodJune

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionAn excellent medium sized shrub.
ID CharacteristicSmall dense rounded shrub with graceful branches and small dark green foliage. Clusters of small white flowers in spring.
ShapeLarge, spreading but dense form.
LandscapeCottage and informal gardens.
PropagationSoftwood cuttings in summer.
CultivationBest grown in moist soils.
PestsSeems to suffer from a wilt as of late. Prior to this major problem the plant was an excellent choice.
Leaf DescriptionSimple, alternate, narrowly oblong-ovate and are 2.5-3.5 cm long. Toothed at the rounded apex.
Flower DescriptionWhite flowers in small corymbs appearing in late May into June.
Fruit DescriptionSmall clusters of greenish-brown fruits cover the arching stems in the summer.
Texture DescriptionFine texture in foliage.

Photographs