However, if it’s stressed due to conditions like inadequate space between plants, inefficient soil drainage, over- or under-watering, or poor weed control, it fall victim to problems associated with its near relative, the rose. thunbergii is not a pest- or disease-prone plant. ‘Ogon’ (Mellow Yellow) (Spirea) Shrub, #3 – Size Container Managing Pests and Disease Ogon spirea (Mellow Yellow), Spiraea thunbergii ‘Ogon’, is available from Green Promise Farms via Amazon. You may also prune deeply every few years, to a height of about 12 inches, to encourage healthy, new growth.įall-planted shrubs benefit from a protective layer of burlap and an extra layer of mulch to weather their first winter.Īnd while somewhat drought tolerant, in the event of a severe heatwave/dry spell, you should provide supplemental water to minimize stress.Īnd finally, apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in late fall or early spring each year. Cut them to the ground just after flowering in the spring. To rejuvenate this plant, use a pair of sharp pruners, to remove some of the oldest, woodiest stems. Maintain even moisture during the transplant stage.Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the time of planting and periodically per package instructions.Place the root ball at the same depth it was in the pot.Prepare a hole as deep and twice as wide as the nursery pot.Manipulate acidity as directed by a soil report.A sunny location yields optimal blooming and leaf color.It’s deer resistant, can withstand pollution, and attracts bees and butterflies. This is a long-lived shrub with good drought tolerance. Maintain even moisture until established, about an inch per week.You may also add a layer of compost or mulch to aid in water retention.You may apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer per package instructions at this time.Water until it all soaks in and then repeat.Make a well about a foot out from the plant with a ridge of soil.Fill the soil back in around the roots and tamp it down.Place the root ball into the ground at the same depth it was in the pot, and set it straight.Gently work the pot off the root ball and tease the roots a bit to loosen them.Work the soil to a friable consistency before removing it and setting it aside. Dig down into the soil as deep as the nursery pot and about twice as wide.Plan to allow for maximum dimensions of up to five feet tall and wide, with 18 to 24 inches between mature plants.Conduct a soil test and apply amendments such as bone meal or lime as directed in your soil report. A pH that is slightly acidic to neutral is best (6.0 to 7.0). Any soil is fine, provided it drains well.Part shade is okay, but you might have fewer flowers and lighter leaf hues. You may put it in the ground at any time between spring and fall. If you are container gardening, choose a pot with a diameter at least twice as wide as twice as deep as the root ball, and be prepared to go up in size as the plant reaches its mature stature. The mature plants you find at a nursery were started in one of these three ways, and are established and ready for transplant into the ground, or a container. The rooted stem portion is then detached from the parent and transplanted. It is then covered with soil and weighed down with a rock. In the layering method, a long, arching stem is bent to the ground, partially severed, and coated with rooting hormone. In the summertime, soft, supple young stems are cut, dipped in rooting hormone, and planted in potting medium.Īlternatively, hard woody stems are cut just before spring, dipped in rooting hormone, and placed in potting medium. Spirea may be propagated from cuttings or by layering.Ĭuttings are taken in one of two ways. By fall, the leaves take on bronze tones.Īs the last of the leaves drop and winter gets underway, exfoliating bark is the predominant feature, punctuating the barren landscape with a maze of stark, textural lines. Golden leaves follow the flowers, deepening to bright green, for a nice contrast to dark evergreens in the landscape. It puts on a show in spring, its cascading stems laden with petite white blossoms that resemble tiny English roses. The ‘Ogon’ cultivar is an early bloomer with a loose, mounding habit that reaches a height and width of 3 to 5 feet. It is prized as a Plant of Merit in the Midwest. thunbergii is considered invasive in parts of the US, including: Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania (Blair County), New York (Fulton County), Connecticut (New Haven). It is known by various names, including baby’s breath, golden bridal wreath, and Thunberg spirea as well as Thunberg’s meadowsweet. The true species and its cultivars are suitable for US Hardiness zones 4 to 8. The Spiraea thunbergii species is native to China and Japan.