Spiraea japonica Minspil04 LITTLE FLAME

Spiraea japonica 'Little Flame' is a particularly compact and ornamental variety of Japanese Spiraea. Naturally forming a low and dense cushion, this dense miniature shrub changes colour throughout the seasons, ranging from orange to yellow, and from green to bronze orange. In early summer, a lovely dark pink flowering appears, which stands out well against the foliage. Hardy and easy to grow in most situations, this plant only fears too much direct sunlight. It is perfect as a low border plant, at the front of a flower bed, or even in a decorative pot on a terrace.

The 'Little Flame' Japanese Spiraea belongs to the extensive Rosaceae family. The Spiraea genus includes more than 80 species of deciduous shrubs native to temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Spiraea japonica is part of the spontaneous flora of Japan and Korea, where it forms an upright shrub reaching a height of 1.50m, with oval leaves and pink flowering in large corymbs measuring 15 to 20cm in diameter. The species has given rise to several horticultural varieties commonly planted in parks and gardens.
The 'Minspil04' LITTLE FLAME® spiraea is a creation of the Minier Nurseries near Angers, introduced to the market in 2018. It is an improvement on the famous variety 'Goldflame', which has been extremely popular for many years. 'Little Flame' is much more compact, as it does not exceed 50cm in height and width, making it easy to grow in a container. It has a dense and bushy habit, naturally forming a decorative dome. The small elliptical leaves, with pointed tips and dentate edges, are alternately arranged on the slender branches. Their colour variations throughout the year provide a strong ornamental appeal. In spring, the young shoots turn bright orange-pink, sometimes bordering on red, giving the plant a particularly vibrant appearance. The foliage then changes to golden yellow, followed by light green in summer, before igniting again in a festival of orange and bronze in autumn, before falling to the ground. In June, flat umbels of bright pink flowers appear, perfectly highlighted by the yellow foliage. They attract pollinators such as butterflies and bees, adding to the plant's ornamental value and biodiversity in the garden.

Highly attractive due to the colourful variations in its foliage, this little 'Little Flame' Spiraea is very hardy and easy to grow. While sunlight enhances its colouration, one should be cautious of too much direct sunlight in southern regions and choose a slightly shaded location, where it will enliven the area with its joyful and bright colours. Plant it at the edge of a flower bed, in front of green-leaved plants that will enhance its appearance. Philadelphus 'Belle Etoile', a Mock Orange with fragrant white flowers that bloom at the same time as Spiraea, will be perfect in this role, as well as a Winged Euonymus, Euonymus alatus, whose green deciduous foliage ignites with red and purple in autumn. A Forsythia 'Mikador' bush, covered in bright yellow flowers in March-April, will extend the flowering period of your diverse flower bed. And for summer, nothing beats an Oakleaf Hydrangea like Hydrangea quercifolia 'Jetstream', with its panicles of white flowers that last until October, gradually turning pink, while the imposing foliage colours in red and dark purple in autumn.