0
0
Spiriea prunifoelia is a member of the rose family. This is a rose bush bearing double white flowers on its branches. The branches arch outwards from the centre which gives a cascading or fountain like appearance to the white flowers. This bush grows to a height of 4-8 feet while the width can reach 6-8 feet. The flowers appear in early spring.It is commonly known as bridal wreath bush because the cascading white flowers resemble a bride.
How to plant?
The hole in which the bush is to be planted should be twice the width and of the same depth as the container in which the plant comes. The roots should be loosened before planting in the soil. After filling the hole with the excavated soil, water the plant to settle the soil. A layer of 2-3″ mulch should be put on the soil away from the stem.
If you want to plant the bushes in rows or masses, keep the space between the plants within a range of 2-6 feet. The minimum space of 2 feet is suitable if you want to create dense hedges. The stems of bridal wreath bush are prickly, hence it should be planted at a location where it does not hurt people.
Factors to consider
Soil: Bridal wreath bush should be planted on a well drained soil. This is because the roots of this shrub should not sit in water. However, there is no limitation with regards to the type of soil. Thus, it can be grown on clay, acidic and loamy soil.
Light: Light is an important consideration when planting bridal wreath bush. The spot where it is planted should receive adequate sunlight so that it thrives well. Even if the spot is partly under a shade, the shrub will grow fine but the flowering would be reduced. When multiple bushes are to be planted, it is necessary to avoid planting them too close because the growth of the bushes tend to block light falling on each other.
Temperature: Bridal wreath bush is resistant against both cold winter and hot summer temperatures. It is also able to thrive well in all climatic conditions provided it is grown in its hardiness zone ranging between 5-9 on hardiness zone scale.Some variants are more resistant against hot or cold temperatures as compared to others.
Fertiliser: Bridal wreath bush does not require a huge amount of fertiliser. Thus, adding a controlled-release fertiliser or 2-inch layer of compost over the soil in early spring is enough to provide nutrients to the bush for the entire growth period.
Pruning: Pruning should be done to maintain the size and shape of the bush. Pruning must remove the dead, broken and old stems till the ground level to expose the centre of the bush to sunlight. The tips of the branches should be given atrimming to control the size of the bush. The ground suckers should also be trimmed to prevent excessive spread of the bush. Thorough pruning should be carried out in late winter or early spring because the bush is dormant during these seasons. Lighter pruning in spring or early summer after blooming results in new blooms.
Varieties of bridal wreath bush
Snow mound variety has white flowers. Anthony Waterer variant has Carmine Red flowers. Fire Light version has pink flowers.
