Plant Details:
Common Name: Little Princess Japanese Spirea
Little Princess' is an easy-to-grow, deciduous shrub that blooms from late spring to early summer, covering itself with dainty, light rose-pink flowers. Spiraea japonica (Japanese spirea) is native from Japan and Korea into northern China, and through that wide range it is extremely variable. 'Little Princess' is smaller-growing selection, making it a better match for many gardens. In summer its toothed leaves are bright green. It has good fall color and tends to hold its leaves late. 'Little Princess' is a good choice for a shrub border or a mixed border, with perennials. Its pink flowers complement plants with burgundy foliage: purpleleaf black elder (Sambucus nigra 'Gerda'), smokebush (Cotinus), or purpleleaf Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii 'Royal Cloak' or 'Rose Glow'). perennials with large leaves, such as Acanthus caroli-alexandri or those with purple foliage, such as Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate' would also be good companions.
This small spirea prefers full sun to light or open shade. Plant it in rich moist to well-drained soil, although it will tolerate clay if the drainage is adequate. Provide regular water to this small shrub to keep it looking its best through the summer. A few older stems can be pruned to the ground in the winter every year. Alternatively, cut the entire shrub back to six to eight inches tall every three or four years and allow it to regrow.
(Source: Great Plant Picks)
