Spiraea japonica Merlo Gold - Japanese Spirea

Spiraea japonica 'Merlo Gold' is a variety of Japanese spiraea with a truly compact habit, forming a very ornamental spreading cushion. Its foliage combines the red of the young shoots, gold as they grow, turning yellow in summer. When autumn arrives, it takes on an orange-red hue before the leaves fall. Its summer, its pink flowering is also attractive and valuable during this season when many bushes no longer bloom. A dwarf variety that is equally interesting in the ground or in a pot on a terrace or balcony.

Spiraea is a member of the large botanical family of Rosaceae, which includes most temperate climate fruit trees (apple trees, plum trees, apricot trees...), numerous ornamental plants (Cotoneaster, Rose of course, Photinia...) as well as many wild plants that populate the countryside (wild strawberry, burnet...).
The Spiraea genus (from the Greek speira, meaning "spiral") is rich in around a hundred species native to the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere: North America (up to Mexico), East Asia up to the Himalayas, but quite rare in Europe in a natural state. The Japanese spiraea comes from Japan, China, and Korea, where it grows in wet to moist soils, in full sun, reaching nearly 2 m in height.
Merlo Gold (Davcop04) is a horticultural variety obtained in Anjou by the breeder Jean-Paul Davasse. This shrub is attractive in more ways than one, especially for small gardens. Of medium growth, it forms a cushion approximately 30 cm high and 60 cm wide, perfectly tolerating pruning, and can therefore be very easily cultivated in a decorative pot to enhance a terrace. Its compact habit and dense foliage will also allow it to be planted at the edge of a bed, or in a border, or even within an English mixed border, alongside perennial plants. The fine shoots are adorned with small elliptical and pointed leaves, with finely toothed edges. The young shoots emerge in spring in red tones that give a flamboyant appearance to the shrub, before turning to gold, then yellow throughout the summer. Depending on the climatic conditions, if it is not too hot or too dry, the plant can continue to produce new shoots, whose red will contrast nicely with the yellow foliage. In autumn, the foliage takes on a superb orange-red colour to beautifully conclude the season, before the leaves fall and winter arrives.
Between June and August, depending on the region, this dwarf spiraea celebrates summer by offering a beautiful pink flowering, in the form of corymbs about 5 cm in diameter, well highlighted by the yellow foliage.

Combining excellent cold resistance, ease of cultivation, and compact size, Spiraea 'Merlo Gold' is an excellent choice for small gardens, brightening up borders with its colourful and luminous foliage. You can easily create contrasts in shape, size, foliage colours, and flowers by pairing it with other equally accommodating plants. Thus, Weigela florida 'Ebony and Ivory' with its upright habit and purple-green foliage will be an ideal companion, both in the garden and on the terrace, as you can also cultivate it in a container. Its white spring flowers are beautifully complemented by its dark foliage. In the background, a plant of Philadelphus 'Belle Etoile', a famous nearly century-old Mock Orange variety, will create a calming green backdrop while its fragrant white flowering will connect the two other shrubs. To enjoy even more flowers, make room for a beautiful shrub rose in your border, which will offer you stunning bouquets to decorate and fragrance your home.