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A photo and description of birch spirea, the most popular varieties of the species, will help determine which specimen is suitable for the design of a particular garden. Plants also have a second name - meadowsweet, but the descriptions often mention a beautifully flowering spirea bush. An unpretentious, hardy and winter-hardy plant does not require particularly difficult care, not picky about soils. Meadowsweet also grows in shade, although it blooms a little. 
Description of birch spirea
The height of the birch spirea is from 50 to 80 cm, the crown is usually the same diameter. The spherical crown is decorative throughout the warm season. Old branches are brown, young ones are ribbed, with a reddish tint, are curved in a zigzag manner, have an average growth rate. Spiraea is birch-leaved, in Latin - Spiraea betulifolia, received a specific name, since its broad-ovate serrated leaves with a wedge-shaped base are similar to birch. Their size is 2.5-4.5x1.5 cm.The leaves are bright green, lighter below, protruding veins are visible. Photophilous meadowsweet begins to bloom from 3-4 years of development. In the middle climatic zone, the buds bloom from the second decade of June, the flowers last until early July. Shield-shaped inflorescences 3-9 cm in diameter, dense, consist of 20-100 small 5-petal flowers 7-9 mm wide. The petals are white, creamy, slightly pinkish or deep pink, depending on the variety. Seeds ripen by early October. If seeds are not needed, the wilted inflorescences are cut off for the brilliance of the shrub. 
In the fall, birch spirea is also picturesque. The leaves turn intense yellow or take on a bright blush depending on the minerals in the soil. Meadowsweet can withstand frosts down to - 29-34 ° С without shelter. The plant retains its decorative effect for 15-20 years, then the shrub is changed or rejuvenated by cutting off at the soil level. 
Birch spirea in landscape design
The meadowsweet is shade-tolerant, but the bush blooms more abundantly in a well-lit place. This fact is taken into account when planning the planting of a shrub in the garden. Birch spirea, judging by the photo, is a plastic plant with which they create original impressive compositions:
- edges near tall ornamental deciduous trees or shrubs;
- contrasting accentuation of conifers, which looks impressive at the time of flowering and in autumn;
- disembarkation on alpine slides;
- edging rockeries;
- mixborder element between other shrubs and flowers;
- undersized hedges of dwarf meadowsweet varieties for garden zoning;
- a colorful element-soloist near the entrance to another zone of the garden or courtyard.
The plant is prized as a generous honey plant and an active source of phytoncides. Landscape designers note the harmonious combination of birch meadowsweet bushes with lilacs, roses, perennial asters and conifers.
Spirea varieties of birch leaves
Breeders have developed original forms of birch spirea.
Spirea birch-leaved Thor
The bush of the Tor variety is low, up to 70 cm-1 m, spreading, spreads up to 1.5 m. The crown is dense, compact, formed from vertical shoots in the form of a hemisphere.According to the description, Spirea birch-leaved Thor is picturesque and without flowers, thanks to the dark green leaves with a steel sheen. In autumn, the bush is painted in yellow tones. Blooms in June and early July. The buds bloom with light cream petals, collected in inflorescences 5-6 cm.Sometimes at the end of August there is a repeated flowering shrub. 
Spirea birch-leaved Thor Gold
The birch spirea variety Tor Gold also has a compact bush, 65-100 cm high. The crown is spherical, dense. Blooms profusely in mid-summer for 25-26 days. Shield-shaped inflorescences of a white shade. The decorativeness of the bushes of Spiraea birch-leaved Spiraea betulifolia Tor Gold consists in the impressive shades of autumn leaves. In summer, the foliage of the variety is light, yellow-green. No wonder the authors compared the overall shade of the bush with the shine of gold. Since August, the leaves acquire bright nuances of yellow, orange, red-crimson, even purple-violet. 
Spirea birch-leaved Iceland
The Spiraea birch-leaved variety Spiraea betulifolia Island is taller than others: the shrub rises from 1 m to 1.5 m. A dense spherical crown with a diameter of up to 1.5-1.8 m. Flowering is long, from June 15-16 to August. Inflorescences are white-cream, standard for the species. Island birch spirea is very beautiful in autumn. Often there is a repeated flowering of bushes in sunny areas, although less abundant than in summer. The purple-purple color of the leaves is impressive. During this period, attention is focused on bright spots of spirea bushes in the garden or against the background of a dark wall of conifers.
Spirea birch-leaved Pink Sparkler
The bushes of the new variety are undersized, only 50-60 cm. The value of birch spirea with pink flowers in a colorful and spectacular effect during bud opening. The flowering of the meadowsweet bush is long-lasting, from June to August. So far, this is the only birch-leaved variety with pink petals. Like all spireas, the bushes of the variety are photophilous and hygrophilous. The qualities are standard for the species: unpretentious, winter-hardy ornamental plant. 
Planting and caring for birch spirea
Hardy ornamental meadowsweet bushes are planted in spring and autumn. In the middle lane of the country, it is better to plant spirea from the beginning of September, in cloudy weather. Meadowsweet seedlings with an open root system are moved in September or April, when the buds have not yet blossomed. Bushes from nurseries in containers take root at any time, but they need to be provided with shading during the heat and regular watering. Any structure of neutral soil with acidity up to pH 5.6-7.8 is suitable for planting a colorful meadowsweet shrub. It has been noticed that meadowsweet develops best of all on moist drained loams. Beautiful, profuse flowering and a bright shade of pink petals are observed in well-lit areas or in light partial shade that falls on the bush, especially at lunchtime. The shade of the leaves depends on the amount of sunlight, which becomes more intense in bright light. The autumn foliage color, saturated with dark reddish tones, is noted in those places where the soils are more acidic.
If meadowsweet bushes are placed as a hedge, the interval between them is 50 cm.In group plantings on ridges, at least 70-80 cm recede between the holes.
Preparation of planting material
When buying a spirea bush, pay attention to the appearance of the seedling:
- open roots are fibrous, firm, fresh to the touch;
- the trunks are even, straight, without damage;
- in autumn, the leaves are fresh, without signs of disease, with an even color;
- in the spring the buds are swollen or slightly opened.
Having delivered to the site, a spirea seedling with open roots is soaked before planting in a liquid solution of clay or with an added growth stimulator, following the instructions attached to the preparation. Seedlings in containers are placed in a large bucket of water so that the roots can be easily removed along with the earthy clod.
Landing rules
It is advisable to dig a hole for the bush earlier and prepare the substrate so that it has time to settle:
- The size of the hole for the shrub is determined by the volume of its roots and makes the hole 1.5-2 times larger.
- The depth of the hole is 40-50 cm.
- A drainage layer of 10-15 cm is arranged at the bottom.
- The substrate is poured from the top layer of the soil and the seedling is placed so that the root collar is flush with the surface of the earth.
- Fill the pit with soil and compact it.
- A groove is made in a diameter of 50-60 cm for watering the seedling.
Watering and feeding
Spirea likes to grow in the sun, but does not tolerate prolonged drought. Systematic watering is organized for the bush. It is enough to pour out 1.5-2 buckets of water, depending on the size of the plant. Meadows are watered infrequently - 2 times a month, if there is natural precipitation. Wet ground is mulched to maintain a loose structure. Or loosened after each watering. Flowering meadowsweet bushes are fed 2 times per season:
- after spring pruning;
- before flowering.
In the spring meadowsweet is fertilized with organic matter: humus or diluted 1: 5 mullein. To this infusion, dissolve in advance and add 5-10 g of superphosphate. Instead of organic dressings, chemical agents are also used, where the nitrogen component prevails. In late May or early June, they are fed with potassium-phosphorus preparations, for example, potassium monophosphate. It is convenient to use balanced complex fertilizers for flowering shrubs. In autumn, the trunk circle is also mulched with humus or peat, leaves, which partially turn into fertilizers.
Pruning birch spirea
Pruning is carried out, as for many plants, in early spring, before the buds wake up. Remove old shoots that are more than 6-7 years old, cutting them down near the ground. Young shoots are evenly cut, collecting several pieces in a bunch. This is how the crown is formed. The tops are cut off to the outer buds, which are best developed. Small branches are removed completely. For 4-5 years, the stems are shortened to 30 cm above the soil. From them, numerous new shoots are usually formed, which make the bush more lush.
The next pruning is the ordering of the birch spirea bush after flowering. Withered panicles are removed so that the plant does not waste energy for the formation of fruits. And at the same time, its appearance improves when autumn leaf colors enter the scene. Strong bushes after 10-12 years of growth are cut off completely for rejuvenation.
Preparing for winter
When the foliage falls, the branches are revised, the damaged ones are removed. The main type of birch-leaved spirea is winter-hardy, does not require shelter. Varietal plants are also declared as having inherited the properties of the parent specimen. Bushes for the winter are mulched with peat or humus, which is also a kind of top dressing. If there is a threat of damage by large rodents, put a special net.
Diseases and pests
Birch spireas rarely succumb to fungal diseases. If there are signs of damage to leaves or branches with gray mold or any spots, fungicides Fitosporin-M, Fundazol, Ditan M-45 or others are used. For prevention in spring, meadowsweet bushes, along with the rest of the trees, are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture. Pests attack the delicate leaves of the bush and cause significant damage to the decorativeness of meadowsweet:
- aphid colonies settle on the leaves and tops of young shoots, feeding on their sap;
- a sign of a spider mite - blurred whitish spots on the leaves, which soon turn yellow and fall off;
- leaves are damaged by whitefly, blue meadow sawfly, rosaceous miner, rose leafworm and other insects.
Acaricides are acquired against ticks. Decis, Fitoverm, Actellik, any insecticides are used against insects.
Reproduction
Meadowsweet bushes propagate:
- layering;
- cuttings;
- seeds.
It is easy to propagate meadowsweet by layering, which is transplanted next spring. If you use a rooting stimulant, all spring and summer cuttings are rooted. They are placed in a sandy substrate in mini-greenhouses and provide moisture. Seeds are sown in spring, stratification is not carried out. 65% of the sown seeds emerge.
Conclusion
A photo and description of birch spirea, where the simple care of an attractive shrub is emphasized, makes you want to plant a plant in your garden. Meadowsweet will be decorative in any version. Rare watering, top dressing and proper pruning will result in a lush bloom.
