Spiraea japonica Magic Carpet

The  Spiraea japonica 'Magic Carpet', a variety of Japanese spirea, is a small bush that is intensely bright, with bronze and orange-pink young shoots that turn into changing yellow-green foliage throughout the seasons. The summer flowering is bright pink to raspberry pink, adding to the charm of this adorable little bush. Undemanding, it will find its place in all gardens. Its compact and rounded habit makes it suitable for borders or low beds, as well as for cultivation in pots or containers. It will adapt to all climates and soils, only fearing excessively dry conditions.

The 'Magic Carpet' Japanese spirea belongs to the rose family. This deciduous bush has a rapid growth, with a mature size that will not exceed 50 cm (19.7 in) in all directions.
The round and compact habit gives a nice density to this small bush. This variety has the particularity of having decorative foliage throughout the season: the young shoots emerge coppery orange with a touch of bronze, they open into small yellow-green leaves sometimes marginated with cream, oblong and serrated before turning bronze in autumn. In June-July, bright pink to raspberry-pink flowers appear in flower clusters, 5 to 10 cm (3.9 in) in diameter, much visited by butterflies.

Plant the 'Magic Carpet' Japanese spirea in any rich soil, as long as it remains moist, preferably in full sun or partial shade. Water well during the first year. Plan to prune this bush before the leaves fall to ensure the most beautiful possible flowering by stimulating the growth of numerous new branches that bear the flowers.

With its bushy habit, this very hardy bush is ideal for low hedges, to form the framework of a perennial bed, or in large borders along pathways. Associate the Japanese spirea with white, pink, or mauve roses. You can place it at the front of a country hedge, accompanied by other dwarf spireas, 'Dream Land' Rhododendron if the soil is neutral to slightly acidic, dwarf red Willow (Salix purpurea nana), or dwarf Purpleleaf Weigela (Nana purpurea). It will grow very well in pots or containers on your terraces and balconies.