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Spiraea x cinerea

Spiraea x cinerea

Common names:
First Snow spirea, Grefsheim spirea

Content Detail

Spirea x cinerea is a hybrid group of spireas with outstanding early season blooms. The white fragrant flowers emerge before the foliage on graceful, arching stems. Light green foliage remains dense to the base of the plant. Use in the shrub border, informal hedge, or as a backdrop for early spring perennials and bulbs.

  • Family (English) Rosaceae
  • Family (botanic) Rose
  • Tree or plant type Shrub
  • Native locale Non-native
  • Size range Medium shrub (5-8 feet)
  • Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
  • Hardiness zones Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7
  • Soil preference Moist, well-drained soil
  • Tolerances Alkaline soil, Occasional drought
  • Season of interest early spring
  • Flower color and fragrance White
  • Shape or form Arching, Upright, Weeping
  • Growth rate Fast

Size and form:

A five to six feet high and wide graceful, shrub with arching stems.

Native geographic location and habitat:

It is a hybrid of Norwegian origin.

Attracts birds, pollinators, or wildlife:

Butterflies love the flowers.

Bark color and texture:

The smooth brown bark is not particularly outstanding.

Leaf description:

Alternate, small one inch long, narrow, sea-green elliptical leaves turn a coppery-bronze in the fall.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size:

Small clusters of white flowers appear up and down the arching stems before the leaves emerge.

Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions:

The fruit is not ornamentally significant.

Plant care:

Spirea x cinerea will do well planted in sun to part shade. Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. In spring before new growth begins feed with a general purpose fertilizer. Prune after flowering in spring. For a formal appearance, shear annually after flowering.

List of pests, diseases and tolerances:

There aren’t any serious diseases. It is tolerant of aerial salt spray. It is resistant to deer. 

First Snow ® Spirea (Spiraea x cinerea ‘Grefsheim’):

This cultivar grows four to five feet high and wide. It has tiny white flowers on arching stems and narrow, blue-green leaves turn a reddish-brown in fall.

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