Spiraea betulifolia Tor Gold

Spiraea betulifolia 'Tor Gold', or Birchleaf Spirea, is a small compact, intensely bright shrub with white spring flowering and attractive golden foliage in summer, transitioning through shades of yellow, orange, red, and purple from spring to autumn. It is not demanding and will find its place in all gardens. Its compact and rounded habit makes it suitable for the front of borders, as well as for growing in containers or planters. It will adapt to all climates, except for excessively dry conditions.

The 'Tor Gold' Birchleaf Spirea belongs to the Rosaceae family. It is a Dutch cultivar (2008) derived from the Birchleaf Spirea, which is native to eastern Siberia, Japan, and Sakhalin Island. The growth of this shrub is moderate, and its mature size will not exceed 80 cm (32in) in all directions.

The 'Tor Gold' Spirea is a small deciduous shrub with a bushy, compact, dense, and spreading habit. The young shoots emerge reddish-orange, unfolding into small yellow leaves measuring 2 to 4 cm (1 to 2in), ovate and dentate, similar to those of the dwarf birch. They successively take on several shades of yellow, culminating in a fiery display in autumn. The flowering occurs in May-June, with small white flowers measuring 0.50 cm (1in) gathered in clusters of 3.7 cm (2in), which are much visited by butterflies.

Plant it in moist to wet, humus-rich, well-drained, neutral, or acidic soil. It tolerates some limestone. This shrub will thrive in partial shade but prefers full sun. The autumn colours will be richer and more pronounced in neutral to acidic soil. To encourage a second bloom, remove faded flowers. Prune after flowering to maintain a compact habit.

Spiraea betulifolia 'Tor Gold' is ideal as ground cover, in shrub borders alongside pathways, or even as a standalone specimen in rock gardens. You can place it at the forefront of a country-style hedge, accompanied in its autumnal blaze by sacred bamboo (Nandina domestica) and its shorter cousin Nandina 'Fire Power', Imperata cylindica 'Red Baron', or the wispy Eragrostis spectabilis. Pair it with perennials or shrubs with dark foliage or red-toned flowers. It will also thrive in containers or planters on terraces and balconies, as long as the conditions are not excessively dry.