Spiraea japonica ZenSpirit Caramel

Spiraea japonica 'Zen'Spirit Caramel' is a variety of Japanese spiraea that stands out for its compact, dense dome-like habit and beautifully coloured foliage that evolves throughout the seasons. Its young shoots are tinged with caramel orange in spring while the foliage turns green in summer under clusters of pink-purple flowers, before changing to coppery red in autumn. It takes up little space and enlivens the garden for a long period of time, making it suitable for small gardens as well as larger spaces, in borders or low beds. It also adapts very well to container or pot cultivation.

The 'Zen'Spirit Caramel' Japanese Spiraea, from the Rosaceae family, is a cultivar derived from Spirea japonica (synonym Spiraea x bumalda or Spiraea callosa), native to eastern and central China and Japan. This cultivar, selected by Minier nurseries, was obtained in 2018 by Hortival Diffusion (France). The growth of this plant is quite slow and it will not exceed 60 cm (24in) in all directions when fully grown. Forming a small, dense and well-branched bush, this variety has foliage of changing hues, consisting of small, oblong and toothed leaves. The flowers appear in June-July, grouped in medium-sized terminal corymbs, in violet-pink. The extended flowering, sometimes recurring in September, attracts numerous butterflies, bees, and bumblebees.

Japanese Spiraea adapts to all climates and soils but it dislikes clayey and compact soils, as well as hot or excessively dry situations. With its low and bushy habit, 'Zen'Spirit Caramel' is ideal for low hedges, to form the framework of a perennial bed, or in large borders. Combine Japanese Spirea with white, red or mauve ground cover roses, as well as small yellow or orange shrubby potentillas. It will be perfect as ground cover in shrub beds alongside pathways, or even in rockeries. You can place this spiraea in the front row of a country-style hedge, accompanied by other dwarf varieties (Spiraea betulifolia), dwarf red willow (Salix purpurea nana), small willows (Salix lanata, Salix repens 'Nitida'), dwarf Manchurian lilac Miss Kim, or even dwarf Weigela (Nana Purpurea). It will grow very well in containers or pots on terraces and balconies, in conditions that are not too dry.