It’s easy to be seduced by flowers, but for continuous interest over a long season, foliage is more important. Fortunately, there are plants that avoid having to make the difficult choice between the two and Spiraea japonica 'Merlo Green' is one of them! With rich foliage colour that changes with the seasons plus bright flowers, everyone’s a winner!
Spiraea japonica 'Merlo Green' is a bushy deciduous shrub that forms neat cushions of foliage. The young leaves emerge bright purple red in spring before maturing to dark plum. Over summer, the foliage transitions to green, whilst flattish clusters of brilliant pink flowers buzz with pollinating insects, boosting your display of flowering perennials. Just as those perennials begin to fade in autumn, Spiraea japonica 'Merlo Green' fills the gap again with glowing copper-red leaves and if you keep deadheading the main flush of flowers, it will even reward you with additional late blooms.
This adaptable shrub suits most soil types and thrives in sun or partial shade. It’s small, neat size is perfect for container growing or smaller garden borders. Other than a straightforward trimming back in spring it requires no special attention and is generally unbothered by pests. Ultimate height: 80cm (31in). Ultimate spread: 1m (3.2ft).
Plant height and spread is seasonal therefore we list by pot size rather than a defined plant size. The height and spread of the plant delivered will vary depending on the season, meaning arrival images are an indication only.
Growing Information
Grow Spiraea in a sunny position, in any fertile, moist, well-drained soil.
