Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Alpina Spirea (Spiraea japonica var Alpina) is a hardy dwarf shrub perfect for a group planting or groundcover. Boasting shades of deep and light pink, the flowers appear in June. The compact spirea, which reaches only 12 to 15 inches high and 4 to 5 feet in spread, packs more flowers than you would imagine on a dwarf plant. It’s also tougher than it looks, hardy in the cold of zone 4 and to the heat of zone 8.
Its size makes Alpina Spirea perfect for planting in groups or to form low borders in garden beds. The pink flowers appear in clusters to brighten early summer gardens. In general, spireas have joined the ranks of the most popular garden plants. This variety also is an easy-care perennial shrub, and a good starter plant for new gardeners.
Alpina Spirea Care
Plant your spirea in spring or fall in a sunny spot of the garden that receives at least 6 hours of sun a day. The shrub will produce the best flower and color with this minimum amount of sunlight. Prepare a hole in soil that drains well, making the hole twice as large as the new plant’s container. Water thoroughly and add a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch to help hold in moisture above the roots.
Continue to water regularly in its first growing season. Once it is mature, your dwarf spirea can handle some drought and will not want to sit in soggy soil. Prune established plants in late winter or early spring for shape and to remove problem branches. You also can prune them lightly after their early summer flowers fade to promote new growth. Each spring, give the shrub an application of a controlled-release fertilizer to help feed it through its growing season.
Alpina Spirea Spacing
Space Alpina Spirea shrubs at least 4 feet apart to give them room to spread. If you are wanting a groundcover or border effect, place them a little closer together.
Alpina Spirea Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 4 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Shade to Full Sun (3+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 12-15 Inches
- Mature Spread
- 4-5 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Dwarf, Mounded
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , Pink
- Flower Description
- Pink
- Bloom Time
- Summer
- Blooms On
-
New Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Late winter to early spring, before new growth starts
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Green
- Foliage Type
- , Evergreen
- Seasonal Interest
- , Summer Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Alpina Spirea
- Botanical Name
- SPIRAEA JAPONICA 'ALPINA'
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!