Spiraea thunbergii Fujino Pink

Spiraea thunbergii 'Fujino Pink' is a delightful variety of Thunberg's Spirea whose early spring flowering somewhat resembles that of an apple tree. Pink in bud, its flowers open into white corollas along its slender and curiously upright branches, creating a charming gradient of pink to white in the garden from the month of March. Of modest size, compact yet light, the bush displays a beautiful density combined with a pleasantly dishevelled appearance. Discreet in summer under its fresh green foliage, it becomes sumptuous in autumn with its beautiful orange coat. Highlight this spiraea by planting it as a solitary specimen on a short grass meadow or by pairing it with other early-flowering shrubs in a border or flowering hedge.

Thunberg's Spirea, more poetically known as "Baby's Breath Spirea", belongs to the Rosaceae family. This long-lived botanical species originates from China and has been cultivated in Japanese gardens for a long time. This compact shrub develops slender, particularly delicate branches. Its somewhat unusual habit evokes a slightly tousled bouquet. Initially erect, the branches become more or less trailing and twisted at the ends. In the end, the plant will reach approximately 1.5 metres (5 feet) in height with a 2 metre (7 feet) spread, growing quite rapidly. The 'Fujino Pink' cultivar is primarily distinguished by its deep pink flower buds, larger flowers, and broader leaves compared to the species type. The spectacular and abundant flowering takes place in March-April depending on the climate, but sometimes extends into autumn. The white flowers, with 5 petals, solitary or grouped in small clusters, appear along the previous year's branches. They are followed by fruits of no horticultural interest, but which are attractive and nourishing for birds. The Spiraea thunbergii 'Fujino Pink' develops dense foliage, semi-evergreen in mild climates and deciduous elsewhere. Its leaves are quite thin, measuring 2.5 cm (1in) in length by 1 cm (1in) in width. The lamina, with a soft texture, is coarsely dentate at the edges and light green in colour, darkening somewhat in summer. The foliage takes on magnificent shades of salmon pink to bright orange in response to cold weather.

The 'Fujino Pink' Thunberg's Spirea, infinitely graceful, plays the role of a dwarf apple tree in the garden, but blooms earlier than the latter, which often waits until April to set flower. This precocity, so appreciated when winter seems neverending, allows for an extended flowering period in borders, and can be admired from the first fine days as a solitary specimen or planted in groups of three, in a large border or even a small flowering hedge. To create a beautiful spring ensemble with a light touch, it can be paired with a lemon yellow Forsythia, an Abeliophyllum, a Japanese quince, Spiraea prunifolia, Prunus x cistena, Prunus 'Okame' or P. triloba 'Multiplex', and the Magnolia stellata, which are also among the earliest flowering shrubs. Spiraea thunbergii 'Fujino Pink' fits well in a Japanese-style, English-style, naturalistic, rural, or romantic garden, as well as in small urban gardens.