Companion Crops for Neon Flash Spirea

Neon flash spirea (Spiraea japonica cv. Neon flash) blooms with reddish-pink flowers through the summer. This deciduous shrub grows to heights and widths of approximately 3-feet and is hardy in the Climate Zones of Sunset 14. It grows nicely with companions that develop in similar circumstances: full sun-exposure and well- draining.

Evergreen Shrubs

Evergreen shrubs provide year round colour, forming a stylish backdrop for perennials that are colorfully. Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) thrives in places that receive full sunlight. Plants increase from 3 to 60-feet tall, having a spread of 3 to 25-feet, with respect to the variety. Eastern arborvitae is a needled evergreen, with upwards-curving branches. It’s hardy in the Environment Zones of Sunset 1 5 through 17. Another alternative is a flowering evergreen shrub like California lilac (Ceanothus cv. Joyce Coulter). This broad-leaf evergreen functions wrinkled, shiny- leaves and vivid clusters of blossoms that bloom until late spring in the center of spring. California lilac grows to heights of 2 to 3-feet, having a spread of 6 to 8-feet.

Flowering Perennials

Choose perennials that bloom in colours that are analogous neighboring each other on the colour wheel. Santana butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii cv. Santana) blooms with purplish red plumes of clustered flowers that attract butterflies to the garden in the center of the summer until first frost. Plants grow to heights of 6 to 7-feet, having a spread of 6 feet. Another alternative would be to choose flowers that bloom colours which are situated on the other side of the colour wheel, in colours. Coconut lime coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea cv. Coconut Lime) increase to heights of 20 to 24-inches. The greenish- petals on coconut lime coneflowers unfurl to reveal an orange-yellow and a heart eye through the summer and autumn.

Groundcovers

Avoid over-crowding your spirea as well as other perennials; consider the plant’s projected spread in to consideration when planting ground covers, permitting sufficient room between plants. Bearberry cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dammeri cv. Lowfast) grows to heights of only 10 to 12″, using a spread that handles 4-to 8-feet. Adorned with red berries in fall, it blooms with tiny pink or white flowers in spring. Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides cv. Variegatum) has greatly scented white flowers from late spring through early fall. Star jasmine isn’t a true jasmine; it grows as a groundcover that is vining, achieving heights of 5 to 24-inches using a spread of 10 to 14 feet and resembles its namesake.

Ornamental Grasses

Grasses provide foliage that fill areas that are empty, complementing perennials with greenery that is desirable. Japanese blood grass (Imperata cylindrica cv. Red Baron) prefers the same growing conditions as neon flash spirea. Foliage that becomes vibrant red with maturity is featured by plants. They develop to widths and heights of 1 or 2 toes. Gardeners can a DD an impression of great blue-green to the landscape with blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens). Foliage grows within an upright or arching development, blooming with flowers that are green from late spring through early summer. Plants develop 2 to 3-feet tall having a spread of one to two toes.

See related