Spiraea japonica 'Firelight'![RHS Plants for pollinators](/assets/styles/images/icons/RHS_Bee_YELLOW-REGISTERED.png)
![RHS Plants for pollinators](/assets/styles/images/icons/RHS_Bee_YELLOW-REGISTERED.png)
Japanese spiraea 'Firelight'
A bushy deciduous shrub to 1.2m tall, with ovate leaves that open dull red to bronze, changing to green in summer and reddish-purple in autumn; small rosy-pink flowers open in clusters in summer
Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
Spring | Bronze Red | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Summer | Pink | Green | ||
Autumn | Purple | |||
Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Bushy
- Genus
Spiraea are deciduous shrubs, sometimes suckering, with simple leaves and short racemes, panicles or corymbs of small, 5-petalled white or pink flowers in spring or summer
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Easy to grow in most moist soils, tolerant of all but the most extreme condition in full sun or light shade. Especially suitable for mixed borders
Propagation
Propagate by softwood or semi-ripe cuttings in spring to late summer or hardwood cuttings in winter
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- City and courtyard gardens
- Coastal
- Wildlife gardens
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
Pruning group 6. If overgrown, can be renovated by cutting back hard immediately after flowering
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free but may be susceptible to honey fungus
Get involved
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