Van Houtte Spirea

Van Houtte Spirea, Bridalwreath Spirea

Spiraea x vanhouttei

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

▲ mature plant at southeast corner of Bookstore on MSU campus

▲ foliage

▲ ▼ mature shrubs flowering in spring

Location on campus: on south side and southeast corner of Baker Bookstore

Spiraea x vanhouttei: VanHoutte Spirea (sometimes called Bridalwreath Spirea)

• leaves alternate, deciduous, rhombic-ovate or obovate with irregular teeth or 3 lobes on upper portion leaf; leaves 1-1.5" long and 2/3 to equally wide; dark blue-green above and whitish below
• twigs slender, brown, glabrous
• flowers in axillary clusters of small white flowers in mid spring (usually after leafing out) along topsides of branches
• grows 3-5' tall and as wide or slightly wider with arching, fountain-like branching pattern
• prefers full sun to almost full shade; likes all but very wet soils; a tough plant; prune out old wood each year to keep rejuvenated with basal sprouts
• medium growth rate