Spiraea japonica Double Play Gold

Spiraea japonica 'Double Play Gold' is a small but particularly colourful Japanese spiraea. With a compact habit and distinctly yellow foliage, brighter than most other yellow-leaved spiraeas, this bush comes alive throughout the summer with pretty flowers in clusters of deep pink. Low-maintenance and undemanding, this adorable little bush will earn its place in any garden. Its compact and rounded habit makes it suitable for borders or low beds, as well as for containers.

The 'Double Play Gold' Japanese Spiraea belongs to the Rosaceae family. It is a cultivar derived from Spiraea japonica, a species with pink flowers native to China and Japan. This plant grows rapidly and reaches an average height of 70 cm (28in) with a spread of 50 cm (20 in) at maturity. Forming a dense, bushy shrub, this variety has particularly bright foliage that contrasts beautifully with the bright pink colour of its flowers. The leaves are small, deciduous, oblong, and dentate. The flowers appear on the current year's growth in June-July, and again until the end of summer if faded flowers are removed. They are grouped in medium-sized terminal clusters, about 6-8 cm (2-3in) wide, slightly spherical. Overall, they are a fairly dark pink, composed of numerous small bright pink flowers with a very deep pink centre. This extended flowering period is also very honey and nectar-rich, attracting butterflies, bees, and bumblebees.

The 'Double Play Gold' Spiraea is a top-notch variety for landscaping. It adapts to all climates and soils but dislikes hot or arid conditions. This plant works wonders as a low hedge or as the backbone of a perennial bed, but also when planted in large borders. Combine Japanese Spiraea with white, pink, or mauve roses, for example, as well as with small shrubby potentillas. It will be perfect as ground cover in shrub beds alongside pathways or even in a rock garden. You can place it at the forefront of a country hedge, accompanied by other dwarf spiraeas (Spiraea betulifolia), dwarf red osier (Salix purpurea nana), dwarf Manchurian Lilac 'Miss Kim', alternate-leaved butterfly bush (Buddleia alternifolia 'Unique'), or dwarf weigela (Nana purpurea). It thrives in pots or containers on terraces and balconies, in conditions that are not too dry.