How big does Japanese spirea grow?

About 1 m × 1.2 m after ten years (height × width).

What soil does Japanese spirea grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous, acidic.

Is Japanese spirea hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Japanese spirea be planted?

Plant it at least 1 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

When does Japanese spirea flower?

Flowering: May–August, pink, white.

How much water does Japanese spirea need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

How much does Japanese spirea cost?

It sells for roughly €3.60 to €7.20 in local shops, depending on size.

Japanese spirea

Spiraea japonica

Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica) is a shrub that reaches 1 m × 1.2 m after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Sold in local shops from about €3.60.

Illustration of Japanese spirea — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A low, dense, mounded deciduous shrub that carries flat pink flower heads for weeks in summer and is popular with butterflies. It is undemanding and very hardy, good in groups along a border, among perennials or in a pot, and many forms have yellow or bronze-tinted leaves. Cut it back freely in spring, and deadhead it so that it flowers again and does not shed seed.

Watch out for

It seeds freely, and escape from gardens with beginning naturalisation in woodland has been recorded in Central Europe (in Austria). Near natural areas, woodland edges or streams, deadhead it or choose something else. Diseases are seldom serious: powdery mildew and aphids can turn up in hot, dry spots.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 1 m × 1.2 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–August, pink, white

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	1 m × 1.2 m
Ultimate size	0.4–1.8 m × 1–2.1 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	May–August, pink, white
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	yes
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	at least 1 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	60 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	from about €3.60

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
20-40 cm	approx. €7
20+ cm	approx. €6
25+ cm	approx. €4
size not stated	approx. €4.90 – €6.90

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Shrubs for part shade Shrubs for pollinators Plants for containers Low-maintenance shrubs Flowering shrubs Low shrubs

Looks good next to it

Morrow’s sedge

Carex morrowii

Persian ivy

Hedera colchica

Heather

Calluna vulgaris