Bridals Wreath Spirea problem
PeggyTX
Posts: 556
When we bought this place 2 years ago, this odd little "shrub" was coming up in the center of a densely shaded bed that is shade all day long but for a little sunshine peeking in through tree limbs. (sorry the photos aren't the best) There are multiple trunks (most that have died off) coming up from the ground with no evidence of a larger tree having been cut back to the ground, so I assume
it is an ornamental shrub. Since my predecessor was a Master Gardener, so my neighbors tell me, I assume it was planted with intent. Though if a Bridal's Wreath Spirea, as I suspect, why on earth would she have planted it in a shaded, treed bed? Sadly it isn't tagged, but the bark is dark, warm brown as seen in the photo and the bark is slick. The plant is deciduous, just leafing out this past 2 weeks. For lack of sunlight (several surrounding mature trees), it has not bloomed or berried, despite thinning out surrounding tree limbs. I'm pretty certain it's Bridals Wreath Spirea, but not positive about that. Leaves are very small (1/2") but remain healthy throughout Spring/Summer with no insect or disease issues. Do you experts concur it is Bridals Wreath Spirea and should I try to move to a new, sunnier location? Or do you think with 50% of the branches unproductive (as seen in pic), you think it will never shape out nicely even with sunshine and is really not worth the effort to relocate? I'm 68 with back troubles and don't like relocating plants any more than I have to. LOL
Last edited: 16 March 2017 15:30:00
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The leaves do look like spirea ... maybe it's been there a very long time and the trees weren't big enough to shade the bed back then?
Rather than have to move it, have you thought about taking cuttings? It strikes quite well from softwood cuttings, and I've been told that you can layer it too although I've not tried it.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks, Pansy. I'll go hake a looksee. YES! I do believe that's what this think is. My Gran had one in her yard and I used to love to snap off little flower branchlets and put them in a vase for her and Mom when we visited. The blooms have a baby powder smell to me.
That's exactly what I'm thinking, Dove. I know in the 10 years at my last house, my back garden went from part sun at one end to total shade from the neighbors oaks and hackberry trees overhanging the shared fence. It's highly possible this bed was much sunnier just 10 years. A friend on another gardening forum said this morning that her neighbor has been growing a Bridals Wreath under the dappled shade of oaks with no problem and it blooms each year. So mine just might have suffered some plant disease or pruning mishap that deprived it of all the growth on the left side as seen in photo. The remaining parts look healthy enough though.
Quite honestly, Dove, I've not done too many cuttings but have a little experience there. Never did layering though. I think that is an excellent suggestion, and I particularly like the part about not moving the existing plant. LOL. Think I'll go ahead and trim off a few cutting and see what happens. Thanks for that thought.