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Photos and descriptions of birch leaf spirea, the most popular varieties of the species, will help you decide which specimen is suitable for the design of a particular garden. The plants also have a second name - meadowsweet, but descriptions more often mention the beautifully flowering spirea shrub. An unpretentious, hardy and winter-hardy plant does not require particularly complex care, and is not picky about soils. Meadowsweet also grows in shade, although it blooms little. 
Description of birch leaf spirea
The height of birch leaf spirea is from 50 to 80 cm, the crown is usually of the same diameter. The spherical crown is decorative throughout the warm season. Old branches are brown, young branches are ribbed, with a reddish tint, are zigzag curved, and have an average growth rate. Birch-leaved spirea, in Latin - Spiraea betulifolia, received its specific name, since its broadly ovate, serrated leaves with a wedge-shaped base are similar to birch leaves. Their dimensions are 2.5-4.5x1.5 cm.The leaves are bright green, lighter underneath, with prominent veins visible. Light-loving meadowsweet begins to bloom from 3-4 years of development. In the middle climate zone, the buds bloom from the second ten days of June, the flowers last until the beginning of July. Corymbose inflorescences with a diameter of 3-9 cm, dense, consist of 20-100 small 5-petal flowers 7-9 mm wide. The petals are white, cream, slightly pinkish or deep pink depending on the variety. The seeds ripen by early October. If seeds are not needed, faded inflorescences are cut off to make the bush more colorful. 
In autumn, birch-leaved spirea is also picturesque. The leaves turn an intense yellow or take on a bright blush depending on the minerals in the soil. Meadowsweet can withstand frosts down to -29-34 °C without shelter. The plant remains decorative for 15-20 years, then the bush is changed or rejuvenated by pruning at soil level. 
Spiraea birch leaf in landscape design
Meadowsweet is shade-tolerant, but in a well-lit place the bush blooms more profusely. This fact is taken into account when planning to plant shrubs in the garden. Birch leaf spirea, judging by the photo, is a plastic plant with which original impressive compositions are created:
- edges near tall decorative deciduous trees or shrubs;
- contrasting accentuation of conifers, which looks expressive during flowering and autumn;
- landing on the alpine slides;
- bordering rockeries;
- mixborder element between other shrubs and flowers;
- low-growing hedges made from dwarf varieties of meadowsweet for garden zoning;
- a colorful soloist element near the entrance to another area of the garden or courtyard.
The plant is valued as a generous honey plant and an active source of phytoncides.Landscape designers note the harmonious combination of birch-leaved meadowsweet bushes with lilacs, roses, perennial asters and conifers.
Varieties of birch leaf spirea
Breeders have developed original forms of birch leaf spirea.
Spiraea birch leaf Thor
The Thor variety bush is low, up to 70 cm-1 m, spreading, spreading up to 1.5 m. The crown is dense, compact, formed from vertical shoots in the form of a hemisphere. According to the description, birch-leaved spirea Tor is picturesque even without flowers, thanks to its dark green leaves with a steely sheen. In autumn the bush is painted in yellow tones. Blooms in June and early July. The buds bloom with light cream petals, collected in inflorescences 5-6 cm long. Sometimes at the end of August there is a repeat bush flowering. 
Spiraea birch leaf Thor Gold
The birch-leaved spirea variety Tor Gold also has a compact bush, 65-100 cm high. The crown is spherical and dense. Blooms profusely in mid-summer for 25-26 days. Corymbose inflorescences are white. The decorative effect of birch-leaved spirea bushes Spiraea betulifolia Tor Gold consists of the impressive shades of autumn leaves. In summer, the foliage of the variety is light, yellow-light green. It’s not for nothing that the authors compared the overall shade of the bush with the shine of gold. From August, the leaves acquire bright nuances of yellow, orange, red-crimson, even purple-violet. 
Spiraea birch leaf Iceland
The variety of birch-leaf spirea Spiraea betulifolia Island is taller than others: the shrub rises from 1 m to 1.5 m. Dense spherical crown with a diameter of up to 1.5-1.8 m. Flowering is long, from June 15-16 to August. The inflorescences are white-cream, standard for the species. Spiraea birch-leaved Island is very beautiful in autumn.Repeated flowering of bushes in sunny areas often occurs, although less abundant than in summer. The crimson-purple color of the leaves is impressive. During this period, attention is focused on the bright spots of spirea bushes in the garden or against the background of a dark wall of coniferous plants.
Spiraea birch leaf Pink Sparkler
The bushes of the new variety are low-growing, only 50-60 cm. The value of birch-leaved spirea with pink flowers is in the colorful and spectacular effect when the buds open. The flowering of the dwarf meadowsweet bush is long, from June to August. So far this is the only birch-leaved variety with pink petals. Like all spirea, the bushes of the variety are light-loving and moisture-loving. The qualities are standard for the species: an unpretentious, winter-hardy ornamental plant. 
Planting and caring for birch leaf spirea
Hardy ornamental meadowsweet bushes are planted in spring and autumn. In the middle zone of the country, it is better to plant spirea from the beginning of September, in cloudy weather. Meadowsweet seedlings with an open root system are moved in September or April, when the buds have not yet opened. Bushes from nurseries in containers take root at any time, but they need to be provided with shading during hot weather and regular watering. Any soil with a neutral structure, with acidity up to pH values of 5.6-7.8, is suitable for planting colorful meadowsweet shrubs. It has been noted that meadowsweet develops best on moist, drained loams. Beautiful abundant flowering and a bright shade of pink petals are observed in well-lit areas or in light partial shade, which falls on the bush especially at lunchtime.The shade of the leaves also depends on the amount of sunlight, which becomes more intense in bright light. Autumn foliage color, rich in dark reddish tones, is observed in places where the soils are more acidic.
If meadowsweet bushes are placed as a hedge, the interval between them is 50 cm. In group plantings on ridges, at least 70-80 cm are spaced between the holes.
Preparation of planting material
When buying a spirea bush, pay attention to the appearance of the seedling:
- exposed roots are fibrous, elastic, fresh to the touch;
- the stems are smooth, straight, without damage;
- in autumn the leaves are fresh, without signs of disease, with an even color;
- In spring, the buds are swollen or slightly opened.
Having been delivered to the site, the spirea seedling with bare roots is soaked before planting in a liquid solution of clay or with an added growth stimulant, following the instructions supplied with the preparation. Seedlings in containers are placed in a large bucket of water so that the roots can be easily removed along with the earthen ball.
Landing rules
It is advisable to dig a hole for the bushes earlier and prepare the substrate so that it has time to settle:
- The size of the hole for a shrub is determined by the volume of its roots and the hole is made 1.5-2 times larger.
- The depth of the hole is 40-50 cm.
- A drainage layer of 10-15 cm is arranged at the bottom.
- Pour the substrate from the top layer of soil and place the seedling so that the root collar is flush with the ground surface.
- Fill the hole with soil and compact it.
- A groove is made along a diameter of 50-60 cm for watering the seedling.
Watering and fertilizing
Spiraea loves to grow in the sun, but does not tolerate prolonged drought. Systematic watering is organized for the bush. It is enough to pour out 1.5-2 buckets of water, depending on the size of the plant.Meadowsweet is watered infrequently - 2 times a month, if there is natural precipitation. The wet soil is mulched to maintain a loose structure. Or loosen after each watering. Feed beautifully flowering meadowsweet bushes 2 times per season:
- after spring pruning;
- before flowering.
In the spring, meadowsweet is fertilized with organic matter: humus or mullein diluted 1:5. This infusion is dissolved in advance and 5-10 g of superphosphate is added. Instead of organic fertilizers, chemical agents are also used, where the nitrogen component predominates. At the end of May or at the beginning of June, they are fed with potassium-phosphorus preparations, for example, potassium monophosphate. It is convenient to use balanced complex fertilizers for flowering shrubs. In autumn, the tree trunk circle is also mulched with humus or peat, leaves, which are partially converted into fertilizers.
Pruning birch leaf spirea
Pruning is carried out, as for many plants, in early spring, before the buds wake up. Remove old shoots that are more than 6-7 years old, cutting them off at the bottom, near the ground. Young shoots are cut evenly, collecting several pieces in a bunch. This is how the crown is formed. The tops are cut down to the outer buds, which are better developed. Small branches are removed completely. At 4-5 years, the stems are shortened to 30 cm above the soil. They usually produce numerous new shoots, which make the bush more lush.
The next pruning is to organize the birch leaf spirea bush after flowering. Withered panicles are removed so that the plant does not waste energy on producing fruits. And at the same time, its appearance improves when the autumn colors of the leaves come into the picture.Strong bushes after 10-12 years of growth are cut off completely for rejuvenation.
Preparing for winter
When the leaves fall, inspect the branches and remove damaged ones. The main type of birch leaf spirea is winter-hardy and does not require shelter. Varietal plants are also declared to be those that have inherited the properties of the mother specimen. For the winter, the bushes are mulched with peat or humus, which is also a kind of feeding. If there is a risk of damage from large rodents, a special mesh is installed.
Diseases and pests
Birch leaf spirea rarely succumbs to fungal diseases. If there are signs of damage to leaves or branches by gray mold or any spots, use fungicides Fitosporin-M, Fundazol, Ditan M-45 or others. For prevention in the spring, meadowsweet bushes, along with other trees, are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture. Pests attack the delicate leaves of the bush and cause significant damage to the decorative appearance of meadowsweet:
- colonies of aphids settle on the leaves and tops of young shoots, feeding on their sap;
- a sign of a spider mite is blurry whitish spots on the leaves, which soon turn yellow and fall off;
- Leaves are damaged by whitefly, blue meadowsawfly, rose leaf miner, roseate leaf roller and other insects.
Acaricides are purchased against ticks. Decis, Fitoverm, Actellik, and any insecticides are used against insects.
Reproduction
Meadowsweet bushes are propagated by:
- layering;
- cuttings;
- seeds.
Meadowsweet is easily propagated by layering, which is replanted the following spring. If you use a root formation stimulator, all spring and summer cuttings will take root.They are placed in a sandy substrate in mini-greenhouses and provided with humidity. Seeds are sown in spring; stratification is not carried out. 65% of the sown seeds germinate.
Conclusion
Photos and descriptions of birch leaf spirea, which emphasize the easy care of the attractive shrub, make you want to plant the plant in your garden. Meadowsweet will be decorative in any way. Rare watering, fertilizing and proper pruning will result in lush flowering.
