How to Grow and Care for Goldflame Spirea

Goldflame spirea is a compact flowering shrub and one of the popular deciduous spirea shrubs. Goldflame spirea is beloved for its colorful foliage that emerges as a bronze-red color in the spring, clusters of pin flowers throughout the summer, transitioning to a bright yellow-green in the summer, and turning an attractive copper-orange in the fall. It typically is quite easy to maintain, tolerating a range of temperatures and growing conditions but it needs full sun for lush growth.

Goldflame Spirea Care

Here are the basic steps to successfully growing the low-maintenance Goldflame spirea.

• Plant this shrub in full sun.
• Feed Goldflame spirea annually.
• Water Goldflame spirea when the soil begins to dry out due to a lack of rainfall.
• Prune annually though these fairly small shrubs will be easy to trim.

Warning

All Spiraea japonica is considered invasive in various places in the eastern United States, includingNorth Carolina and Tennessee.

Light

This shrub prefers to grow in full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days. Too little light can lead to poor foliage color and reduced flowering.

Soil

Goldflame spirea can tolerate a range of soil types, including clay soil. But it thrives in rich loamy soilwith good drainage. The shrub likes a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH between 5.5 and 7.5 and can tolerate a slightly alkaline soil.

Water

Water new shrubs regularly to maintain lightly moist (but not soggy) soil. Mature spirea shrubs have some drought tolerance but still prefer a moderate amount of soil moisture. So water whenever the soil becomes dry. But don’t allow the roots to sit in pooled water, as this can lead to root rot.

Temperature and Humidity

Among the spirea shrub varieties, Goldflame spirea is known for its good heat tolerance. In general, it is quite hardy to the temperature swings within its growing zones. And typically humidity is not an issue unless high humidity causes the soil to remain soggy.

Fertilizer

This shrub is not a heavy feeder. Apply a slow-release, general-purpose garden fertilizer in the early spring as new growth is just beginning. For the amount to use, follow the product label instructions. It also can be beneficial to mix some compost into the soil around the shrub.

Types of Japanese Spirea

Besides Goldflame spirea, there are several other attractive species and varieties of Japanese spirea, including:

• S. japonica 'Magic Carpet': This variety has slightly more cold tolerance than Goldflame and its leaves transition from red to gold throughout the growing season.
• S. japonica 'Little Princess': This shrub has a dense, low-growth habit, and its bright green leaves turn bronze in the fall.
• S. japonica 'Anthony Waterer': This popular variety features frilly clusters of bright pink flowers, and its foliage goes from blue-green to red in the fall.
• S. japonica 'Double Play Doozie’: This variety flowers continually from spring to fall with purple-red blooms.
• S. japonica 'Double Play Big Bang': The foliage on this variety starts bright orange before turning golden for the summer and then back to an orange-gold for the fall.

Pruning

Goldflame spirea does not need excessive pruning. The plant blooms on new wood, so in the late winter or early spring while the shrub is still dormant, prune off any dead or damaged branches. Also, clean up the shrub’s shape if necessary by taking out any unsightly or weak stems. Then, in the summer, remove the spent blooms and lightly prune the stems once flowering is complete. This can encourage a second bloom for the season.

Propagating Goldflame Spirea

It is not recommended to grow Goldflame spirea from seed, as it is a cultivar and won't produce a plant true to type. The shrub can be easily propagated by softwood cuttings, which is done in the late spring. Take these steps:

1. Cut a branch tip 4 inches long with a sharp knife or pruners. Strip the leaves from the lower third of the cutting. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone.
2. Fill a 4-inch pot with potting mix and water until evenly moist but not soggy. Poke a hole in the soil deep enough to fit the leafless portion of the cutting, using a pencil or a stick. Insert the cutting into the soil and press it down.
3. Keep the pot in a bright location with indirect light, away from the hot sun. Water it regularly so the soil is moist at all times. New leaf growth is a sign that new roots have begun to form and you can transplant the spirea in garden soil.

How to Get Goldflame Spirea to Bloom

Bloom Months

Goldflame spirea will bloom from the late spring through the summer.

What Do Goldflame Spirea Flowers Look and Smell Like?

Goldflame spirea flowers grow as clusters of tiny pink five-petal blooms. The flower has a subtle sweet scent that attracts butterflies and other pollinators.

How to Encourage More Blooms

Goldflame spirea can grow in partial sun but if it is not blooming, it could be that it is in a location that is too shady. The other possibility is that you have over-fertilized it with nitrogen, and as a result, there is mainly foliage but no or few flowers. You can fix this by cutting back on the fertilizer. Or, when you fertilize it before the next growing season, use afertilizer high in phosphorus.

Deadheading Goldflame Spirea

Deadhead faded Goldflame spirea blooms to encourage more flowering.

Common Problems With Goldflame Spirea

Goldflame spirea is very forgiving and easy to grow. But, keep on top of any signs of browning or yellowing.

Brown and Dry Stems or Centers

The plant may be underwatered or moisture did not reach the center of the mound. If you just transplanted the shrub, it may be in shock and recovering. Take care of the shrub, water it well, and it should rebound.

Browning Leaves

Brown leaves may mean the plant suffers from transplant shock, root rot because of soggy soil, or sunscald from too much sun. Spirea often easily rebounds once the issue is resolved.

Yellowing Leaves

The plant is likely sitting in soggy, poorly draining soil. A mature spirea plant in the ground does not need watering. If the plant is young, let the ground dry out before giving it another drink.

From: thespruce