Plant Profile: Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound'

Names

Japanese Spirea 'Lime Mound', Limemound Spirea

  • Photo of Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound' (Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound's)

Phonetic Spelling:sp-i-REE-a ja-PON-i-ka

Genus:Spiraea

Species:japonica

Family:Rosaceae

Limemound Spirea is a deciduous shrub from the rose family, characterized by its vibrant lime green leaves. This hybrid is a cross between S. japonica and S. albiflora. With a compact growth habit, it produces eye-catching small pink flowers that bloom in late spring and continue through mid-summer, attracting butterflies. For optimal growth, plant it in full sunlight and in moist, well-drained soil. While it can tolerate light shade and a variety of soil types, it thrives best in organically rich loams. Pruning should be done in late winter to early spring, as the flowers develop on new growth.

This small, mounding shrub can be used as a standalone specimen, grouped along a shrub border, or as part of a foundation planting or low hedge. Its lime green foliage beautifully complements the red bricks of patios and fits well in cottage or rock gardens.

Additionally, this plant is resistant to deer damage. It can be propagated by dividing the root ball in spring or fall, or through softwood cuttings taken in summer.

In terms of pests and diseases, Limemound Spirea does not face significant issues.

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound' Feature Summary

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound' Image Gallery

Tags

#showy flowers
#deciduous
#fall color
#specimen
#wildlife plant
#pink flowers
#deciduous shrub
#nectar plant
#low maintenance
#mass planting
#air pollution tolerant
#deer resistant
#foundation planting
#small flowers
#long bloom time
#late spring flowers
#mid-summer flowers
#early summer flowers
#fall color yellow
#small group plantings
#clay soils tolerant
#pathways
#nectar plant late spring
#fall color red
#fall color orange
#lime green leaves
#butterfly friendly
#shrub borders

Similar Plants

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound' is often confused with:

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound' Feature Summary

Attributes
Flowers attract butterflies.
Perennial
Woody
Flowers
Tiny pink flowers in corymbs bloom from late spring to mid-summer
Showy
Long Bloom Season
Spring
Summer
Leaves
Simple ovate toothed leaves are yellow when they appear in early spring and turn lime green with a bit of russet as they mature.
Green
Gold/Yellow
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Red/Burgundy
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
3 feet-6 feet
12 inches-3 feet
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
3a
3b
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Rock Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Cottage Garden
Border
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Small groups
Specimen
Deer
Pollution
Erosion
Butterflies
Pollinators

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound' Attributes

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Wildlife Value

Flowers attract butterflies.

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

erosion, clay, air pollution, deer

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound' Flowers

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Flower Description

Tiny pink flowers in corymbs bloom from late spring to mid-summer

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Flower Color

filter_vintage
Pink

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound' Leaves

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Leaf Description

Simple ovate toothed leaves are yellow when they appear in early spring and turn lime green with a bit of russet as they mature.

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Leaf Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Green

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Orange
spa
Red/Burgundy

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound' Whole Plant Traits

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound' Cultural Conditions

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
3a
thermostat
3b
thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound' Stem

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Stem Color

grass
Red/Burgundy

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound' Landscape

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Spiraea japonica 'Lime Mound': Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees