I'm a huge fan of Spireas, particularly hot new cultivars such as Magic Carpet and Neon Flash.

Neon Flash Spirea

These great little deciduous shrubs have it all: gorgeous flowers, colorful foliage, compact growth, disease and insect resistance, and a tough as nails constitution. Shrubs with these attributes have endless landscape possibilities. Truly, Magic Carpet and Neon Flash are among the most exciting woody plants to come along in decades.

Their impact in the garden lasts from spring until fall. In May and June they cover themselves with countless clusters of tiny dark pink flowers. This first flowering of the year is most dramatic, lasting at least three to four week. After the initial flowers fade, sporadic flowering continues throughout the remainder of the growing season. Late season flowering is not as dramatic, but enough flowers are produced to keep these dwarf shrubs highly effective in most garden situations.

With little or no pruning dwarf Spireas naturally develop into graceful, rounded shrubs roughly three feet tall and wide. However, I prefer to heavily shear my Spireas in March, just before bud break. Both cultivars respond by producing thick, compact growth and tons of lush flowers in May and June

I'm particularly fond of Magic Carpet's unique foliage. Spring growth emerges with bright red-orange shoots over chartreuse to gold leaves. This unusual color combination will stop garden visitors in their tracks

For a magical garden effect, plant Magic Carpet in front of dark green hollies, nandinas, or other large evergreens. The dark foliage background will wonderfully highlight the gold tones in Magic Carpet foliage.

There are countless ways to use Magic Carpet, Neon Flash and other dwarf Spireas in a garden. They look great lining a walk or path, and they are effective foundation plants near a deck, porch, or fence. And, they are dynamite shrubs for adding contrast and texture to a mixed shrub or perennial border. They also perform well as long-lived container plants for a sunny deck or patio.

Spireas are among the least fussy of all shrubs. They grow well in all but the most poorly drained soils. Season long fertility needs are easily met with a single application of slow release fertilizer at or just after flowering.