Bridal-wreath Spiraea is a deciduous perennial shrub typically grown as an ornamental feature in gardens. The plant can reach a height of 6 feet, tends to be twiggy and spreading into a fountain-like form, and displays frothy, pompom-like clusters of snow-white flowers along the terminal of arching branches. The bush blooms in May in its native China; hence the common name, May Bush. Bridal-wreath Spiraea is a hardy plant that is drought and heat-tolerant, slightly salt-tolerant, and seldom damaged by deer. The plant is easily transplanted, grows rapidly, and will often require pruning, which should be done after the plant has completed flowering. It grows in a range of soil types except for wet soil and produces new stems from the base of the plant. It is best grown in cooler climates with protection from the hot afternoon sun as that can cause leaf burn. The flowers attract butterflies. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems No significant problems More information on Spiraea .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Oblong; Rhomboidal
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The dark green leaves are acute, cuneate, incised serrate or irregularly 3-cleft. They are dark blue-green, 1 to 2 1/2 inches, glabrous above, glaucous with 3-5 conspicuous main veins beneath.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Corymb
Flower shape
Dome
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The flowers are a 2 inch pompom-like cluster. The inflorescence is a crowded hemispheric corymb, on pins at branch terminus, to 2 inch diameter. Flowers are white to pinkish, about 1/3 of an inch in diameter. They have 5 petals.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit detail
The fruit is a poly-follicle, with 3-5 plurisemined carpidia.
Stem detail
Upright; arching branches; produces new stems from the base. Stems are slender, glabrous, and arching.