Spiraea japonica 'Neon Flash' – 'Neon Flash' Spirea

The 'Neon Flash' spirea is a dazzlingly floriferous shrub that lives up to its name. It stands out with an explosion of intense, almost fluorescent, reddish-pink flowers that animate the garden for a long period. This compact and easy-care shrub offers a changing spectacle, with foliage that colours over the seasons, making it a dynamic and worry-free addition to any landscape.

Characteristics

• Foliage: It develops dense and fine deciduous foliage. New shoots emerge with a reddish hue in the spring before turning dark green during the summer. In the fall, the foliage transforms and takes on superb coppery-bronze or purple tones.
• Flowering: From late spring to early summer, the plant covers itself in large, flat-topped flower clusters, composed of bouquets of small cherry-red or bright magenta-pink flowers. The bloom repeats for several weeks.
• Light: It thrives in full sun, which guarantees the most abundant flowering and the richest foliage colours.
• Habit: It forms a multi-stemmed shrub with a bushy, dense, compact, and rounded habit. Its base remains full right to the ground.
• Growth: Fast. It reaches a height of about 80 to 100 cm (3 feet) with a spread of 1 to 1.2 m (4 feet).
• Moisture: It prefers average to cool moisture conditions.
• Soil: It is not demanding and adapts to most types of well-drained soil.
• Hardiness: Very hardy, it faces Zone 3 winters without any problem.
• Watering: It requires regular watering during its first season. Once established, it tolerates short periods of drought but should not be allowed to dry out completely.
• Resistance: It demonstrates good resistance to deer and handles urban pollution well.

Uses

• Types of Use: Its compact size and dense habit make it an excellent choice for mass plantings, low hedges, borders, or as a colour accent.
• Ornamental Features: The main attraction is the "neon" colour of its flowers, which creates a strong visual impact. The changing foliage—red in spring then purple-bronze in fall—ensures visual interest across three seasons.

Care

• Fertilizing: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring to support its growth and flowering.
• Pruning: Its maintenance is easy. Prune the shrub in late winter or early spring to remove dead wood and encourage vigorous growth.
• Planting: Plant in a sunny location in well-drained soil.