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Spiraea japonica 'Little Princess'
Little Princess spirea
Species {Spiraea japonica} native to Japan, Korea, and China; the species is listed as invasive under state invasive plant regulations in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and other eastern US states. 'Little Princess' is a compact cultivar selection
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Overview
Spiraea japonica 'Little Princess' is a compact mounding deciduous shrub in the family Rosaceae reaching 1.5–2.5 feet (45–75 cm) tall and 2–3 feet (0.6–0.9 m) wide — the smallest of the common S. japonica garden cultivars, half to a third the size of the species-type S. japonica which reaches 3–5 feet (0.9–1.5 m). Leaves are small, ovate to lance-shaped, finely serrated, 1–2.5 inches (2.5–6 cm) long, bright green through the growing season, and turn yellow in fall before leaf drop. Pale pink to rose-pink tiny 5-petaled flowers open in flat-topped corymbs 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) across at the branch tips from June through August across a 6-week bloom period on current-season wood. Shearing the spent flower corymbs after the main flush encourages a secondary bloom flush in August and September that extends the bloom window into early fall. The compact low mound suits the cultivar to front-of-border positions, low hedges, mass plantings, and container culture where taller spireas would overwhelm the planting scheme. Limitation: the bright green summer foliage and yellow fall color do not supply the multi-season visual interest of other colored-foliage S. japonica cultivars such as 'Goldflame' (bronze-red, golden-yellow, russet-orange) or 'Magic Carpet' (russet-red spring, deep gold summer), so 'Little Princess' out of bloom is a plain green mound that reads as background rather than as a focal planting; the species S. japonica is listed as invasive under state invasive plant regulations in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and other eastern US states, and 'Little Princess' self-seeds freely in suitable positions with seedlings that revert to the more vigorous species-type growth habit, so planting is discouraged or prohibited in those states where the species is regulated.
Native Range
The species Spiraea japonica is native to Japan, Korea, and China, growing in open woodlands, stream banks, and forest margins across its native range. 'Little Princess' is a compact-habit cultivar of the species that has been propagated vegetatively for the nursery trade since the late 20th century. The species is listed as an invasive plant under state invasive plant regulations in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and other eastern US states where naturalized populations establish in old fields, roadsides, and forest margins.Suggested Uses
Used as a low front-of-border planting, edging along paths and walkways, mass planting in drifts of 5–15 plants, foundation plant below windows, and container specimen at 2–3 foot (0.6–0.9 m) spacing, and in containers of at least 5 gallons (19 L) with well-drained potting mix. The compact 1.5–2.5 foot (45–75 cm) habit suits tight front-of-border positions where taller spireas would overwhelm the planting scheme. Planting is discouraged or prohibited in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and other eastern US states where S. japonica is regulated as an invasive species, and native alternative small shrubs including Itea virginica 'Little Henry', Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird', and Fothergilla gardenii supply summer bloom without the regulatory issue.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1'6" - 2'6"
Width/Spread2' - 3'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Pale pink to rose-pink tiny 5-petaled flowers open in flat-topped corymbs 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) across at the branch tips from June through August across a 6-week bloom period on current-season wood. Honeybees, native bumblebees, and butterflies work the flowers for nectar. Shearing the spent flower corymbs after the main July flush encourages a secondary bloom flush in August and September, which extends the bloom window into early fall in the Pacific Northwest and similar mild summer climates.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pale pink to rose-pink tiny 5-petaled flowers in flat-topped corymbs 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) across at the branch tips from June through AugustFoliage Description
bright green through the growing season; small, ovate to lance-shaped, finely serrated, 1-2.5 inches (2.5-6 cm) long; turns yellow in fall before leaf dropGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Site in full sun to partial shade with 4–12 hours of direct sun per day in well-drained soil with a pH of 5.0–7.5. The cultivar tolerates loam, clay, and sand substrates and a wide pH range and is drought-tolerant once established after the first growing season. The species S. japonica is listed as an invasive plant under state invasive plant regulations in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and other eastern US states, and planting of 'Little Princess' is discouraged or prohibited in those jurisdictions because the cultivar produces viable seed that birds disperse into natural areas, and seedlings revert to the more vigorous species-type growth habit. Hardy in USDA zones 3–8. Deer-resistant.Pruning
Pruning is done in late winter (February and March) while the plant is dormant because the bloom is borne on current-season wood rather than on old wood. A hard cut back to 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) above ground produces dense compact regrowth with strong bloom in June and July, and a lighter shaping cut preserves more of the previous years framework for earlier leaf emergence. Shearing the spent flower corymbs after the main July flush encourages a secondary bloom flush in August and September. The compact mounding form develops naturally and does not call for shaping beyond the annual dormant cut.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring
Maintenance Level
lowContainer Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons