Nippon Spirea

Nippon spirea is the arching, cascading spirea with dense clusters of white flowers that cover every branch in late spring, creating a fountain of white bloom that is among the showiest spring displays any medium-sized shrub can produce. 'Snowmound' is the standard cultivar: a dense, mounding form three to five feet tall, covered so heavily in white flower clusters in May that the foliage disappears beneath the bloom. Native to Japan.

In Western Washington, Nippon spirea performs well in full sun to part shade with well-drained soil. The bloom is concentrated in a two-to-three-week period in May rather than the extended season of Japanese spirea, but the intensity during that window is worth the rest. Prune after flowering, as it blooms on the previous year's wood. No significant disease or pest concerns are tracked. For a single, concentrated burst of white spring flowers on a tough, adaptable, medium-sized shrub, 'Snowmound' is the selection to plant.