I want to purchase a few Bridal-White Spirea shrubs and have them grow in the woods in full shade. How well will they bloom? The experts insist they bloom in full shade but I just cannot take the risk of all the money and time spent on these bushes if they will only sparsely bloom. Will they bloom decently enough in full shade?

Mine are in full shade - they bloom beautifully.

What climate are you in?

I live in Northern Michigan:Taverse City, on the cusp on zone 4 and 5. I sure do hope the bloom nicely.

I'm in NY. If you are concerned, have the Nursery guarantee that the shrubs will flower - in writing.

Hi! Lorraine707, welcome to AMHD :)

As JKT has iterated:

I'm in NY. If you are concerned, have the Nursery guarantee that the shrubs will flower - in writing.Nowadays most if not all established nurseries guarantee their flora for the simple fact of customer satisfaction, standard warranty runs for one growing season.

If you don't see this warranty prominently displayed, by all means ask, some even have it printed out in their brochures. If not, do like JKT has said "get it in writing" any reputable nursery will not feel offended.

The Bridal-White Spirea (Spiraea x vanhouttei) you are interested in, is tolerant to Z3, but prefers full sun to light shade, and depending how “shady” your woods are, is the determining factor here. Most often the local experts are usually on the mark.

If you can take a picture, during the day of the area that you want to place your Bridal-Whites, and take that to the nursery, that would be helpful to the nurseryman/woman in helping you make your decision.

Your Bridal-White:
Spirea vanhouttei (http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/s/spivan/spivan1.html)

Other white Spirea's:
Spirea nipponica (http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/s/spinip/spinip1.html)
Spirea thunbergii (http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/s/spithu/spithu1.html)
Spirea prunifolia (http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/s/spipru/spipru1.html)

Not white, but red to pink
Spirea bumalda (http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/s/spibum/spibum1.html)
Spirea japonica (http://www.hort.uconn.edu/plants/s/spijap/spijap1.html)


K

Will Bottlebrush Buckeye, Butcher's Broom, Alpine Currant American Bladdernut, Mountain Pieris, Mountain Laurel, Inkberry, Kerria Japonica, Sweetspire, Coralberry, Cutleaf and Sweetshrub, (all bushes for shade), grow sparsely in the shade as compared to a more sunnier spot? What I really want is full shade shrubs that are dense growing in full shade, 6'-10' tall and spreads as much or more, and other shrubs 4-5 tall-spreading as much or more, blooms decently in shade, drought resistant, average to fast growth rate in the shade, perferably full to the ground, evergreen perferrably and disease, pest & deer resistant. I just cannot take the risk of time and money spent and settle for less. What shrubs have these qualities for zone 4 - 5? Who can help me?

Lorraine707,
I merged your two threads as they pertain to the same subject, I will respond as soon as I expend some of my time to get you, your answer... k

Your local nursery can help.
Do as I suggested and take a bunch of pictures of the areas that you want to plant, along with the plants You want, and they'll give you the answer as to weather they'll fit or not.

And if you ~ just cannot take the risk, and settle for less ~ Then your going to have to spend the money and hire a professional landscaper. It's guaranteed, and if it ain't right then you got the right to complain and demand to have it fixed.



If you can take a picture, during the day of the area that you want to place your Bridal-Whites, and take that to the nursery, that would be helpful to the nurseryman/woman in helping you make your decision.


K