Magic Carpet spirea

Sun

Full sun gives the strongest leaf colour and most flowers; tolerates partial shade.

Water

Water regularly during the first growing season. Once established, water during prolonged dry spells; avoid persistently wet soil.

Soil

Average, well-drained soil; tolerates clay if drainage is adequate and a fairly wide range of soil pH.

Height

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Flowers

Flat clusters of deep pink flowers in late spring and summer, sometimes followed by a lighter repeat flush after trimming.

Foliage

Small, toothed leaves emerge orange-red, mature to yellow or yellow-green, and often develop orange, red or bronze autumn colour. Leaves become greener in shade.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Cold hardy
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

   full size

About 5 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Invasive in

the US

In the garden

Spreads vigorously: plan to contain it.

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water deeply when the root zone begins to dry during the first growing season.
• Apply 2 in (5 cm) of organic mulch, keeping it clear of the woody stems.
• In spring, add a light layer of compost; use fertiliser only if growth is weak or soil is poor.
• Remove faded flower clusters before seed develops, especially where Japanese spirea escapes into natural areas.
• Pull out seedlings promptly and water established plants during extended drought.

Pruning. In late winter or early spring, remove dead or damaged stems and shorten the remaining growth by about one-third to maintain a compact mound. Lightly trim after the main flowering flush to remove spent flowers and encourage fresh growth.

Late winter

Prune before new leaves open, removing dead wood and shortening crowded or straggly growth.

Spring

Plant when soil is workable, water thoroughly and mulch around the root zone.

Late spring

Check tender shoots for aphids and rinse off small colonies with water.

Summer

Trim faded flower clusters before seed forms and water during prolonged dry weather.

Autumn

Remove unwanted seedlings and replenish mulch without covering the stems.

• Plant as low edging along sunny paths, allowing space for the mature spread.
• Repeat small groups through a mixed border to link planting with bright foliage.
• Pair with purple-leaved heucheras or dark-green shrubs for leaf-colour contrast.
• Combine with catmint and hardy salvias for contrasting flower shapes and a long summer display.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Traditional, Formal, Low-maintenance, Small-space and Family-friendly.

Plant it with: Catmint, Hardy salvia, Purple coneflower, Purple-leaved heuchera and Feather reed grass.

Wildlife: Flowers provide pollen and nectar for bees and other insects. Despite this value, it is not a suitable substitute for native shrubs where Japanese spirea is invasive.

• Aphids can curl young shoots: rinse colonies off with water and avoid excessive nitrogen feeding.
• Powdery mildew may coat leaves in crowded conditions: improve airflow, thin congested stems and avoid drought stress.
• Root rot can follow waterlogging: improve drainage or move the shrub to a better-drained position.
• Dull green foliage and sparse flowering usually indicate too much shade: move to a sunnier site.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No part is recognised as seriously poisonous, but it is an ornamental plant rather than a food plant.

Where it spreads. Japanese spirea spreads by seed and can form dense stands in disturbed ground, along streams and at woodland edges in the eastern United States. It is listed as invasive in states including Tennessee, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Do not assume 'Walbuma' is sterile; choose a locally suitable alternative where the species is invasive.

• Goldflame spirea (Spiraea japonica 'Goldflame')

  Has similar bronze-red new growth and yellow foliage but usually forms a taller, broader shrub; reliable identification may require its nursery label.

• Goldmound spirea (Spiraea japonica 'Goldmound')

  Usually has more uniformly yellow foliage with less pronounced red colouring in the emerging leaves and grows somewhat larger.

• Anthony Waterer spirea (Spiraea japonica 'Anthony Waterer')

  Has predominantly green mature leaves and a taller habit, rather than Magic Carpet's low mound of golden foliage.

The species name japonica means 'Japanese', while Magic Carpet is the selling name for the cultivar 'Walbuma'.

Propagation. Softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer preserve the cultivar's characteristics. Seedlings do not reliably retain its compact habit or leaf colour; check applicable plant breeders' rights before propagating.

Accepted botanical name

Spiraea japonica

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Japan, Myanmar, Taiwan and Tibet.

Measured

Average height 138 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.