Spiraea betulifolia PINK SPARKLER COURISPI01

Spiraea betulifolia PINK SPARKLER ® 'COURISPI01' is a brand new variety of spirea with birch-like leaves. It is the first to offer pale pink flowers with a darker pink centre, which bloom from early summer and again in autumn. They are grouped in small flat-topped clusters that adorn the light green foliage, which turns beautiful shades of red in autumn. This small, round and compact bush can make beautiful ground cover in a rustic or contemporary border, or in pots or containers. It is undemanding and very hardy, and will adapt to all climates except excessively dry conditions. It is particularly well suited to cold regions.

The PINK SPARKLER ® Birchleaf Spirea belongs to the Rosaceae family. It is a French hybrid derived from the Spiraea betulifolia, which is native to eastern Siberia, Japan and Sakhalin Island. This bush has a medium growth rate and will reach a mature size of 1m (3ft) in all directions.

A deciduous shrub with a bushy habit, this spirea is compact, dense and slightly spreading. The young shoots emerge orange-red, then open into small light green leaves measuring 2 to 4 cm (1 to 2in), oval and toothed, similar to those of the dwarf birch. They successively turn various shades of yellow, culminating in a fiery display in autumn. The flowering occurs in May-June in the form of small pale pink flowers with a deep pink centre, arranged in large 4 cm (2in) clusters that are highly attractive to butterflies. To encourage a second flush of blooms, faded flowers should be removed.

Spiraea betulifolia PINK SPARKLER ® is ideal as ground cover in a shrub border alongside pathways, or even as a standalone specimen in a rock garden. You can place it in the front rank of a rustic hedge, accompanied in its autumnal blaze by sacred bamboo (Nandina domestica or Nandina 'Fire Power'), Japanese blood grass (Imperata cylindica 'Red Baron') or the airy Eragrostis spectabilis. Combine it with perennials or shrubs with dark foliage or red-toned flowers. It will thrive in pots or containers on your terraces and balconies, in conditions that are not excessively dry.