japanese meadowsweet

How do you care for a Japanese meadowsweet?

Japanese Spirea, Japanese Meadowsweet (Spiraea japonica)

Plant Feed. Slow release feed in spring.
Watering. Keep well-watered.
Soil. Organic-rich, well-drained soil.
Basic Care Summary. Plant in a reliably sunny spot. Best in organic-rich, well-drained soil. Keep soil moist, watering freely in dry weather. Prune back early each spring for best display.

Is Japanese spirea invasive?

Also known as Japanese Meadowsweet, this ornamental shrub was first introduced from Asia around 1870 to 1880 due to its showy flowers. It is now classified as invasive in the Mid-Atlantic states, including Virginia, and is on the list for Arlington County. ...

How do you prune a Japanese meadowsweet?

Summer-flowering species are pruned at the end of winter, towards the month of March.

Begin with eliminating wilted branches at the base.
Remove older wood to stimulate appearance of new shoots.
Free the center of your meadowsweet, while rejuvenating the silhouette of your shrub.

Is Japanese meadowsweet edible?

Meadowsweet is not a common ingredient in many dishes, but it does have a history of being used as a flavoring for beers, wines, and syrups. The flowers are also used in jams and other fruit preserves for their subtle almond flavor. The leaves can be used in salads, though this is not common.

Where does meadowsweet grow?

Meadowsweet is a good candidate to grow in moist meadows or near bodies of water, where the herb blooms from June through August. And while the versatile herb can grow in full or partial sun, in boggy soil where summers are cool, or in latitudes where summers are warm to hot, meadowsweet does require some attention.

Can I cut my spirea to the ground?

The spirea species (Spiraea spp.) ... To control the spirea's size and keep it blooming year after year, you should prune it back after blooming or when it's dormant in winter. If it's severely overgrown, cut it to the ground to rejuvenate the shrub.

What can I plant next to spirea?

Many shrub roses and perennials work well as companion plants with Spireas. Groundcovers and groundcover Junipers also work well as companion plants for this group.

Does spirea grow fast?

Spireas (Spiraea species) are among the easiest flowering shrubs to grow. These attractive shrubs are fast growing and should be grown in full sun for best flowering. They can, however, tolerate partial shade. Some are spring bloomers; whereas others bloom in the summer.

How tall does Spirea japonica grow?

Spiraea japonica (meadowsweet) is a low-growing, mound-forming, shrub with rose-pink flowers in flat-headed panicles, from mid to late summer. Height to 3ft (90cm), spreads to about (1.5m).

How do you grow meadowsweet?

Grow meadowsweet in a partially shady area that has well-draining soil and good water retention. ...
Add 2 to 3 inches of mulch, such as wood chips or bark mulch, to help the soil retain water. ...
Water meadowsweet regularly during the growing season, providing it with 1 inch of water weekly from spring until fall.

When should I trim my butterfly bush?

Generally, most butterfly bush pruning should take place during the winter months, in warmer climates, while the plant is dormant. However, the butterfly bush can also be pruned in the spring with no ill effects. Just make sure you wait until the threat of frost has passed.

Is spirea an evergreen?

Spirea (Spirea spp.), a group of plants belonging to the rose family, are a group of deciduous shrubs that originated in Central and Eastern Asia. ... Because they lose their leaves every year, spirea are not considered an evergreen plant.

Can you eat meadowsweet?

Is Meadowsweet edible? Meadowsweet is quite edible, but the trick is finding something to do with it! The plant contains several useful chemicals, principal of which is salicylic acid.

What does meadowsweet mean?

1 : any of several spireas especially : a North American native or naturalized spirea (such as Spiraea alba and S. latifolia) 2 : any of a genus (Filipendula) of herbs closely related to the spireas.

What does meadowsweet taste like?

Since the land has been sheep-free, the indigenous plants and bees have not only come back – but native species like meadowsweet have flourished. This much underused cooking ingredient has a taste and smell somewhat reminiscent of almond essence.

Can meadowsweet grow in shade?

Growing meadowsweet, queen-of-the-prairie: Meadowsweets prefer a good, well-drained, moist garden soil in full sun, although they will succeed in partial shade. Plants eventually form a good-sized clump.

What is meadowsweet good for?

Meadowsweet is a plant. The parts that grow above the ground are used to make medicine. Meadowsweet is used for colds, bronchitis, upset stomach, heartburn, peptic ulcer disease, and joint disorders including gout. It is also used to increase urine output and kill germs in the urine of people with bladder infections.

Does spirea bloom on old wood?

If your spirea bloom in the spring, They are likely Spiraea prunifolia or Spiraea x vanhouttei and they bloom on "old wood" or the previous year's growth. These should be cut back after blooming in 2016.

How do you shape a spirea?

You should actually prune your spirea more than once a year, at least twice. Give it a good trim after it flowers in the spring by cutting back the tips of the stems to the top leaf bud. This removes the dead blossoms and also may trigger a second blooming and new leaf growth. You can also shape the shrub at this time.

How far back can you prune spirea?

Trim back overgrown spireas or those that produced sparse foliage on the lower stems severely in fall after the foliage begins to fall off, to keep the shrubs shaped and compact. Cut back each stem to within 8 to 12 inches of the ground.