Spiraea japonica Anthony Waterer

Spiraea japonica 'Anthony Waterer' is an English horticultural variety cultivated since 1875 and widely planted in gardens due to its numerous qualities. Not very tall and easy to fit anywhere, this Japanese spirea forms a lovely bushy plant adorned with ornamental foliage for much of the year. It sports a beautiful red-bronze colour in spring, while in summer it turns dark green and blooms with numerous clusters of deep pink flowers. A sturdy plant, adapting to almost all growing conditions, it thrives in both sunny and shaded locations.

Spiraea japonica 'Anthony Waterer' belongs to the Rosaceae family. It is a cultivar derived from the Japanese Spiraea, which is native to China and Japan. The growth of this bush is quite fast, and its mature size will not exceed 1 m (3.3 ft) in height and 80 cm (31.5 in) in width. Forming a small, upright, and compact shrub, this variety has foliage that is purple when it opens, becomes green in summer, and turns yellow in autumn. The leaves are small, oblong, and toothed. The flowers, produced abundantly, appear in June-July. They are grouped in medium-sized terminal corymbs (10 cm (3.9 in)) and range from intense pink to violet at the end of the current year's shoots. This flowering attracts numerous butterflies, bees, and bumblebees.

With its bushy habit, this very hardy, upright, compact bush is ideal as a low hedge, to form the framework of a perennial bed, or in large borders. Combine Japanese Spirea with white, pink, or mauve roses. It will be perfect as a ground cover in front of shrub beds or along pathways. You can place it in the front row of a country hedge, alongside other smaller spiraeas (Spiraea betulifolia), dwarf purple osier (Salix purpurea 'Nana'), dwarf Manchurian lilac 'Miss Kim', or dwarf Weigela florida 'Nana Purpurea'. It will also grow well in containers or flower boxes on your terraces and balconies, in not too arid conditions.