Spiraea japonica Darts Red

The Spiraea japonica Dart's Red is a variety of Japanese Spiraea that is distinguished by its large dark pink floral clusters, which appear in late June and can last until the end of summer. Autumn also allows it to stand out as its foliage takes on beautiful bronze to purple hues. Its compact, well-branched habit makes it useful for forming low hedges or for combining in diverse flower beds, and it can even be planted in containers on a terrace. Highly resistant to cold and adaptable to most growing conditions, it is a plant that is easy to adopt without hesitation.

The 'Dart's Red' Japanese Spiraea belongs to the large family of Rosaceae, which includes most of our fruit plants (from apple trees, pear trees, cherry trees, apricot trees to strawberries and raspberries), numerous wild plants, as well as many horticultural plants. The queen of flowers, the rose, has given its name to the family, which also includes serviceberries, cinquefoils, firethorns, kerrias, etc.
This 'Dart's Red' Spiraea is an improvement on Anthony Waterer', a very old variety (1875). The growth of this well-branched bush is moderately fast, and its mature size will not exceed 80 cm (31.5 in) to 1 m (3 ft 4 in) in all directions as an adult. Flower buds begin to form in June and produce terminal corymbs, about 12 cm (4.7 in) in diameter, of dark pink flowers that turn red until August-September. This long-lasting flowering attracts many insects and butterflies. Its deciduous foliage consists of small leaves, about 6 cm (2.4 in) long, oblong, dentate, and acuminate, with colours that vary from spring to autumn. When they emerge, young leaves have a reddish tint before turning green during the season and then bronze-purple in autumn before falling.
Highly resistant to cold (-20°C), this bush grows in practically all soils, from moderately acidic to moderately alkaline, not too dry in summer.

Easy to grow, this little Dart's Red Spiraea can be used for low hedges, around a terrace, or along a pathway. It is also well-suited for planting in flower beds alongside spring-flowering shrubs, creating a visual attraction throughout the growing season. It can be combined with Forsythias, which brighten the garden with their luminous yellow at the beginning of the season, followed by the classic, irreplaceable Mock Orange or Philadelphus coronarius with its single white flowers and delightful fragrance. The unique Pheasant Berry (which is actually a shrub, Leycesteria formosa) will then extend the flowering period of our little Spiraea with its curious decorative fruits in autumn.