Spiraea japonica Little Princess

The Spiraea japonica 'Little Princess' is a variety of Japanese spirea that perfectly lives up to its name, forming a spreading and dense dome, this adorable bush is adorned with delicate fresh green foliage and offers abundant tender pink flowering in summer in the form of corymbs that transform the plant into a large flowering cushion. Compact, with a beautiful habit and an exceptionally abundant flowering, it has its place in small gardens as well as in larger spaces, in borders, rockeries or low beds. It also adapts very well to container or pot cultivation.

The 'Little Princess' Japanese Spirea, from the rose family, is a cultivar derived from Spirea japonica (synonym Spiraea x bumalda or Spiraea callosa), originating from eastern and central China and Japan. The growth of this plant is quite slow and its adult size will not exceed 40cm (15.75 in) in height and 70cm (27.6in) in width. Forming a true mound, wider than it is tall and supported by dense and well-branched vegetation, this variety develops young foliage tinted with bronze that unfolds into small light green leaves that darken in summer. This foliage consists of small oblong and dentate leaves. The numerous flowers appear in June-July, grouped in terminal corymbs measuring 5cm (2in) in diameter, with a somewhat pale purplish rose appearance. This prolonged flowering, often recurring in September, attracts many butterflies, bees, and bumblebees.

The Japanese Spirea adapts to all climates and all soils, but it dislikes scorching or arid situations. With its beautiful large cushion habit, 'Little Princess' is ideal for forming the structure of a perennial bed or creating large borders. Combine the Japanese Spirea with white, pink, or mauve ground cover roses, for example, as well as with shrubby cinquefoils. It will be perfect as a green carpet in shrub beds along pathways, or even in rockeries. You can place it in the front row of a country hedge, accompanied by other dwarf spireas (Spiraea betulifolia), dwarf red osier (Salix purpurea nana), small willows (Salix lanata, Salix repens Nitida), Miss Kim Dwarf Manchurian Lilac (Syringa patula Miss Kim), or even dwarf Weigela (Weigela florida Nana purpurea). It will grow very well in containers or pots on your terraces and balconies, in not too arid conditions.