(Blue Potato Bush, Royal Robe Potato Bush)

Blue potato bush is a sprawling evergreen shrub native to Argentina and Paraguay. 'Royal Robe' is a compact, free-flowering cultivar that bears fragrant, violet-blue, salver-shaped flowers in warm weather throughout the year. The flowers are followed by one-inch red fruits. It requires moist, well-drained soil and full sun. Use it against a wall, in a mixed border, or as a container plant for the garden or greenhouse.

(False Spirea)

Providing spring to fall interest with its handsome ferny leaves, the Ural falsespirea is particularly arresting in midsummer when covered with frothy white flowerheads. An upright, suckering, thicketing shrub, it is native to northern Asia eastward to Japan.

Emerging very early in spring, the long frond-like compound leaves comprise numerous narrow leaflets. Young leaves are glossy light green with blushes of coppery red. In summer, upright astilbe-like clusters of tiny white flowers adorn...

(Spanish Broom)

Offering showy bloom over a long season, this medium-sized, open-growing shrub from the Mediterranean is considered an invasive weed in California and several other areas outside its native range. Spires of large fragrant yellow pea-flowers debut in spring or early summer and continue to appear in showy masses for many weeks. Dark brown seed pods follow the flowers. The erect, rush-like stems grow more than head-high in favorable conditions. Green when young, they mature to brown. They bear small,...

(Birchleaf Spirea, Spirea)

A dwarf mounded deciduous shrub that possesses many similarities to Japanese spirea, this native of Northeast Asia bears flat heads of white flowers in late spring and early summer. The dense plants have purplish-brown stems. The small rounded leaves resemble those of birch.

Adaptable to a wide range of soils in sun and light shade, this is a highly versatile ornamental shrub that works well in mixed borders, foundation plantings, and rock gardens. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage prolonged...

(Spirea)

The gracefully bowing branches of Spiraea cantoniensis are lined with rounded clusters of white flowers in late spring and early summer. A wide-spreading, head-high shrub native to China and long cultivated in Japan, it is deciduous in colder regions but nearly evergreen in mild districts.

In late spring or early summer, clusters of five-petaled white blossoms adorn the length of the red-brown stems, attracting both bees and butterflies. The brown seedheads persist on the stems. The...

(Japanese Meadowsweet, Japanese Spirea)

Ubiquitous in gardens, Japanese spirea is a small upright deciduous shrub native to eastern Asia. This hardy, easy to grow, densely mounding plant bears many soft flat clusters of pink flowers from early to late summer. The toothed oval medium-green leaves sometimes turn bright colors in fall. Many cultivars are widely available including the golden-leaved 'Goldflame', and the rose-pink-flowered 'Little Princess'.

Tolerant of light shade and a wide range of soils, Japanese spirea is a highly versatile...

(Anthony Waterer Spirea, Japanese Meadowsweet, Japanese Spirea)

A widely used ornamental landscape plant, Anthony Waterer spirea is a flowering deciduous shrub that originates from Japan and China. This hardy, easy to grow shrub has a dense, rounded habit and bears soft clusters of dark pink flowers in mid to late summer. Spent flowers can be removed to extend flowering. Its newly emerging foliage is red-purple in color and matures to bright green.

Best grown in full sun and tolerant of a wide range of soils, 'Anthony Waterer' is a highly versatile landscape...

(Candlelight Japanese Spirea, Japanese Meadowsweet)

Ubiquitous in gardens, Japanese spirea is a small upright hardy deciduous shrub native to eastern Asia. The dwarf cultivar 'Candlelight' features colorful oval leaves that emerge butter-yellow, mature to golden-green, and turn bright hues in fall. Soft flat clusters of pink flowers appear atop this dense mounding shrub from early to late summer.

Succeeding in a wide range of soils in sun or light shade, Japanese spirea is a highly versatile ornamental shrub that works well in mass plantings,...

(Japanese Meadowsweet, Scarlet Japanese Spirea)

Ubiquitous in gardens, Japanese spirea is a small upright deciduous shrub native to eastern Asia. This hardy, easy to grow, densely mounding plant bears many soft flat clusters of pink flowers from early to late summer. The toothed oval medium-green leaves sometimes turn bright colors in fall. Many cultivars are widely available including the golden-leaved 'Goldflame', and the rose-pink-flowered 'Little Princess'.

Tolerant of light shade and a wide range of soils, Japanese spirea is a highly versatile...

(Crimson Glory Japanese Spirea, Japanese Meadowsweet)

Ubiquitous in gardens, Japanese spirea is a small upright hardy deciduous shrub native to eastern Asia. The cultivar 'Crimson Glory' features a compact habit and some of the reddest flowers of its tribe. The soft flat clusters of cerise flowers appear atop this dense mounded shrub from early to late summer. The medium-green leaves are oval and toothed.

Succeeding in a wide range of soils in sun or light shade, Japanese spirea is a highly versatile ornamental shrub that works well in mass plantings,...