Plant Library

Other Names:  Spiraea japonica

Description:

Described as an improved "Goldflame" with deeper orange new growth turning bright yellow throughout summer, and finishing with fiery red fall color; foliage color fades less with the heat of summer than other varieties

Ornamental Features

Firelight features showy clusters of hot pink flowers at the ends of the branches from late spring to early summer. It has attractive yellow deciduous foliage which emerges orange in spring. The small serrated pointy leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding scarlet in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Firelight is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Firelight is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Firelight will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.