How to Grow and Care for Little Princess Spirea

Little Princess spirea is a deciduous, flowering shrub adorned with flat-topped clusters of pink flowers in the summer and attractive bright green leaves for the duration of the growing season. This hardy variety of spirea grows well in most climate conditions and exhibits moderate drought resistance. With well-draining soil and full sun, the shrub is typically easy to grow and maintain.

Little Princess Spirea Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing Little Princess spirea.

• Plant in well-draining soil, preferably with a loamy
• Choose a garden location that receives at least 4 to 6 hours of sunlight.
• Water regularly, but don’t allow the soil to become soggy.
• Apply a slow-release fertilizer in the spring.

Warning

Japonica spirea has a tendency to freely self-seed and the Little Princess variety follows suit. Because of this, japonica spirea plants are considered to be invasive in Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Before planting little princess spirea, consult state regulations that may restrict the cultivation of this plant.

Light

Little Princess spirea does best in full sun conditions. Ideally, you should choose a spot in your garden or yard that receives at least 6 hours of sun each day. However, these plants can also adapt to partial shade locations.

Soil

As long as the soil is well-draining, Little Princess spirea can adapt to a variety of soil conditions. Rich, loamy soil is preferred by the plant but it will grow in clay soil, too. Soil pH should be acidic or neutral.

Water

When you first plant a Little Princess spirea shrub, water it deeply and regularly. Don’t oversaturate the soil; it’s best to water when the top 2 inches of soil feels dry to the touch.

As the plant becomes established, it will still benefit from a regular watering schedule, especially during periods of hot weather with limited rainfall. However, these plants are moderately drought-resistant.

Temperature and Humidity

Little Princess spirea grows well in a wide range of temperature and humidity conditions, as suggested by the fact that its hardy in USDA growing zones 4 to 8. The plant is cold hardy to temperatures as low as -30 degrees and handles heat and humidity relatively well, although it may need more consistent watering in hot, dry climates.

Fertilizer

Like other spirea varieties, you may not need to fertilize Little Princess spirea plants. As long as the plant exhibits healthy growth and foliage, fertilization is usually not necessary. If you decide to fertilize, plan to do so once annually, applying a well-balanced slow-release fertilizer in the spring.

Pruning

Occasional pruning for Little Princess spirea will promote healthy growth and maintain the plant’s shape and appearance. During the growing season, remove spent flowers and lightly prune the stems. This can induce a second flush of flowers to appear.

At the end of winter or in early spring, prune the plant to clear old and damaged wood and to promote airflow and circulation within the plant.

Propagating Spirea Little Princess

The simplest way to propagate Little Princess spirea is with softwood cuttings. This can be done in the spring or summer. You'll need pruning shears, soilless potting mix, a 6-inch pot, rooting hormone (optional), and a clear plastic bag. Here’s how to do it:

1. Using pruning shears, take a softwood cutting measuring 10 to 12 inches in length. Remove the leaves on the lower half of the cutting.
2. Fill the pot with the soilless mix and moisten. Dip the end of the stem cutting in root hormone, if desired. Plant the cutting in the pot. Note: You can plant several cuttings in a single pot.
3. Place a clear plastic bag over the pot and position it in bright, indirect light.
4. Monitor the soil and water as needed to keep the soil moist, but not overly wet.
5. The cuttings should develop roots in about 4 weeks. Once evidence of root structure is present, transplant the cuttings into the garden.

Overwintering

Little Princess spirea is hardy to USDA growing zone 4 and generally needs no special treatment to withstand winter weather. However, you may choose to mulch the root area of the plant to provide additional insulation.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Like other spirea shrubs, garden aphids and spider mites are the most common pests to plague Little Princess spirea plants. If you suspect an invasion from either pest, an easy way to combat the problem is to hose the plant off with a strong stream of water or you can use neem oil.

Another common problem for these plants is powdery mildew, which can develop in humid conditions with limited sunshine. A fungicide may be the best option for combating the onset of this problem.

How to Get Little Princess Spirea to Bloom

Little Princess spirea is a popular flowering shrub, so most gardeners will be eager to learn how to maximize the bloom season for these plants. The flowers, which appear in flat-topped clusters known as corymbs, will attract butterflies to your garden.

Bloom Months

Little Princess spirea typically blooms in the summer, although flowers appear as early as May and will continue blooming until July.

How to Encourage More Blooms

You can take a few steps to boost bloom production for your spirea shrub. One of the most commonly suggested steps is to deadhead spent blooms. Since the shrub is typically covered with small blooms, most gardeners give the entire plant a light prune that clears the way for new blossom growth.

In addition, adding a layer of mulch around the base of Little Princess spirea can help to encourage healthy plant growth that produces more blooms. These plants like moist (but not soggy) soil and mulch helps to maintain moisture, especially in hot climates.

Caring for Little Princess Spirea After It Blooms

After Little Princess spirea finishes blooming for the year, you should prune the shrub. Remove dead wood and shape the shrub as desired. A healthy pruning paves the way for new growth the following spring, which is essential for flower production since this shrub flowers on new growth instead of old growth.

Common Problems With Little Princess Spirea

Little Princess spirea is a popular pick for a flowering shrub because its easy to grow in most climates and conditions. However, there are some common problems to be on the lookout for.

Curling Leaves

If you notice that the leaves of your Little Princess spirea are curling, you likely have an insect infestation. There are two possible culprits: aphids and leafrollers, which are moth larvae. In the case of aphids, you’ll see very small green, yellow, black, or brown pests on the undersides of the leaves. For leafrollers, the curled leaves will be rolled and sealed shut with a fine silk.

In both cases, it may be possible to manually remove the insects if only a few are present, but you will likely need to apply an insecticide targeted for the specific pest in the case of a larger infestation.

Leaves Turning Yellow or Developing Spots

The mint green foliage of Little Princess spirea is an excellent backdrop to the shrub’s flowers and an attractive landscape feature in its own right. If the normally light green leaves are turning yellow, it’s usually a sign of overwatering or fungal disease.

Spirea shrubs like moist soil but it must be well-draining. If the soil becomes overly saturated with no place to go, root rot can develop. This can cause yellow leaves, along with a wilted appearance and leaf drop.

Fungal diseases, like leaf spot disease and verticillium wilt, can also cause yellowing leaves. If the change in leaf color is accompanied by brown spots, it’s likely a form of leaf spot disease. Fungal diseases tend to develop in moist, humid conditions. Remove affected leaves and consider pruning the shrub to increase airflow.

If the leaves turn reddish and then yellow, you may be dealing with verticillium wilt. This fungal disease is hard to treat and can spread throughout the garden. Remove any affected branches, sterilizing your pruning shears after each cut. You may also consider removing the shrub to prevent the spread of the fungus to other plants.

From: thespruce