Spiraea japonica Goldmound

Spiraea japonica 'Goldmound' is a variety of Japanese spiraea with a rounded and compact habit that bears very bright foliage, transforming this small bush into a golden ball in spring. It turns lime green in summer, alongside corymbs of flowers in carmine pink, before turning bronze-copper in autumn. Japanese spiraeas are really easy to grow, in the sun and in ordinary soil, in most climates. Its small size also allows it to be adopted in a large pot on the terrace or balcony.

The 'Goldmound' Japanese spirea, from the Rosaceae family, is one of the many cultivars derived from the Spiraea japonica (syn. S. x bumalda or S. callosa), originating from eastern and central China and Japan. The growth of this plant is quite slow and its adult size will not exceed 70 cm (28in) in height and 90 cm (35in) in width at adulthood. Forming a small bush with a compact and rounded habit, this variety has deciduous foliage in changing colours, consisting of small oblong, hairy and dentate leaves. The yellow young shoots are tinged with red during budburst, unfold into golden leaves, take on a greener shade in summer, and are beautifully coloured at the end of the season. The flowers appear in June-July at the end of the current year's shoots. They are grouped in terminal corymbs of 10 cm (4in), large considering the size of the plant, in carmine pink. The prolonged flowering, often recurring in September, attracts numerous butterflies and bees.

Japanese spiraea adapts to all climates and soils but dislikes scorching sun or overly arid situations. With its dense dome-like habit, 'Goldmound', very hardy, is ideal as a low hedge, to form the framework of a perennial bed, or to create large borders. Associate it with dwarf purple barberries, dark Physocarpus, or white, pink or mauve roses. Perfect as ground cover in shrub beds alongside pathways, or even in rock gardens. Place Spiraea japonica 'Goldmound' at the forefront of a rustic hedge, accompanied by other dwarf spireas (Spiraea betulifolia), dwarf red osier (Salix purpurea nana), dwarf Manchurian lilac 'Miss Kim', or dwarf weigela ('Nana Purpure'a). It will grow very well in containers on your terrace or balcony, in not too arid conditions.