Spiraea nipponica June Bride

The Spiraea nipponica 'June Bride' is an alternate variety of Japanese Spirea with a graceful habit and generous white flowering in late spring. The flowers are so numerous that they gracefully bend the branches of this bush. Hardy, robust, and undemanding, this plant can be easily grown in any type of soil, in full sun or partial shade.

The 'June Bride' Japanese Spirea belongs to the Rosaceae family. It is a horticultural variety derived from a botanical species native to China and Japan. The growth of this bush is quite fast, reaching an adult size of about 1.20 m (4ft) in all directions. It has a dense and slightly spreading habit. The very generous flowering takes place from May to June, covering the bush with numerous small white bouquets, in flattened corymbs of 2 to 3 cm (1in), made up of small single flowers. They attract many insects and butterflies. The main branches are erect and upright, carrying arching stems. The foliage is deciduous, forming in spring and falling in autumn. The young leaves are tinged with violet, becoming dark bluish green in summer and turning yellow in autumn. The foliage is composed of small alternate, simple leaves, measuring 1 to 3 cm (1in) in length. Flowers and leaves appear on the same side of the arching branches.

The 'June Bride' Japanese Spirea is mainly used in small free hedges or shrub borders, for its beautiful flowering, or in combination with other small bushes or to fill a large slope. Plant with alternate roses, small-sized abelias, dwarf buddleias, or weigelias.

The word Spiraea means "coil" or "garland" in Greek; a legend says that the queen of the meadows used these flowers to make garlands. It was in the 16th century that the botanist Charles de l'Ecluse attributed the name Spiraea to the entire genus. The nipponica species is native to Japan and the Japanese spirea was recently introduced. It was discovered by the German naturalist Siebold in 1885 but was only introduced to Europe in 1908. It has been used to create several cultivars.