Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
Spireas like the Little Princess are recognizable, low-maintenance and traditional additions to cottage gardens and rustic landscape plantings for good reason. Little Princess is a compact cultivar with low maintenance needs, few pest or disease problems, and brilliant pink flowers in the summer. This spirea is a cultivar of Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica) and works well as an accent plant single shrub in a small garden.
Lime green, deciduous foliage offers an excellent contrast for the blooms, which attract pollinators. In a mixed planting, its compact size makes it an excellent companion to go in front of larger shrubs. It grows in USDA zones 4 to 8 and tolerates moderate drought conditions. .A vigorous growth habit also means these plants are easy to shape into a dense, low hedge or border.
Little Princess Spirea Care
The Little Princess spirea prefers partial shade to full sun and well-drained soil. It is moderately drought tolerant but benefits from regular watering while it is getting established and during extended dry spells. A layer of mulch over the root zone will further decrease watering needs. These shrubs do not need much fertilizer; a one-time application of a slow-release fertilizer in spring is sufficient.
A light pruning in spring ensures maximum blooming. Cut back about a third of the stems at this time. To shape a group of these plants into an informal hedge, prune the spireas harder in the early spring to create the form you want. Snipping off dead flowers mid-summer encourages a second flush of flowers.
Little Princess Spirea Spacing
The Little Princess is a compact, mounding shrub that grows no more than 2 to 3 feet wide and high. Plant them with this spacing to form a dense, low hedge or border. Give them a bit more space as specimens or if planted around larger shrubs in a mixed garden.
Little Princess 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
- Full Sun (6+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 2-3 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 4-5 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , 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
- , Deciduous
- Seasonal Interest
- , Summer Flowering
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Little Princess Spirea
- Botanical Name
- SPIRAEA JAPONICA 'LITTLE PRINCESS'
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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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.
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