Billiard Spirea (Spiraea x billardii)
The Billiard Spirea is an extremely frost-hardy flowering shrub growing to heights of no more than 2 m in kitchen gardens and flowering hedges. A decorative and popular source of forage for honey-bees, it grows wild in marshy areas near towns and along streams and rivers.
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Appearance
The Billiard Spirea is an extremely frost-hardy flowering shrub growing to heights of no more than 2 m in kitchen gardens and flowering hedges. A decorative and popular source of forage for honey-bees, it grows wild in marshy areas near towns and along streams and rivers.
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Leaves
Narrowly obovate to oblanceolate leaves with serrated margins, 5 - 8 cm long, 1 - 2.5 cm wide. Leaf stalk 0.2 - 0.5 cm long. Alternate arrangement. Leaves are green above, grey-green and slightly hairy below with a slightly rugose surface. Feathery arcuate veining.
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Leaf upperside
Narrowly obovate to oblanceolate leaves with serrated margins, 5 - 8 cm long, 1 - 2.5 cm wide. Leaf stalk 0.2 - 0.5 cm long. Alternate arrangement. Leaves are green above, grey-green and slightly hairy below with a slightly rugose surface. Feathery arcuate veining.
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Leaf underside
Narrowly obovate to oblanceolate leaves with serrated margins, 5 - 8 cm long, 1 - 2.5 cm wide. Leaf stalk 0.2 - 0.5 cm long. Alternate arrangement. Leaves are green above, grey-green and slightly hairy below with a slightly rugose surface. Feathery arcuate veining.
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Leaf autumn
Narrowly obovate to oblanceolate leaves with serrated margins, 5 - 8 cm long, 1 - 2.5 cm wide. Leaf stalk 0.2 - 0.5 cm long. Alternate arrangement. Leaves are green above, grey-green and slightly hairy below with a slightly rugose surface. Feathery arcuate veining.
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Flowers
Flowering period: VI to VIII. Monoecious pink blossoms with 5 petals each. Inflorescence: 10 - 20 cm wide panicle. Particularly decorative.
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Bark
Brown-green, occasionally furrowed smooth outer bark. Dark red-brown branches.
Application
Grouped plants, preplanting, flowering shrubs, flowering hedges, honey-bee forage, parks, kitchen gardens
Native regions
Central Europe
Location parameters
Light: full sun to off-sun; very frost-hardy; not fume-hardy; soil: fresh; soil structure: sandy-loamy to loamy, well aerated deep soil; no stagnant moisture; pH value: acid to slightly acid; nutrient concentration: normal to high.
Demands
For well aerated deep soil without stagnant moisture, very frost-hardy, not fume-hardy. Soil compaction and stagnant moisture must be avoided.
Growth
Height of growth: 1.5 m - 2 m. Spread: 1.5 m - 2 m. Bushy yet compact, upright decorative shrub.
Leaves
Narrowly obovate to oblanceolate leaves with serrated margins, 5 - 8 cm long, 1 - 2.5 cm wide. Leaf stalk 0.2 - 0.5 cm long. Alternate arrangement. Leaves are green above, grey-green and slightly hairy below with a slightly rugose surface. Feathery arcuate veining.
Flowers
Flowering period: VI to VIII. Monoecious pink blossoms with 5 petals each. Inflorescence: 10 - 20 cm wide panicle. Particularly decorative.
Fruits
Blue-black stone fruit. Reddish with spreading style when young.
Bark
Brown-green, occasionally furrowed smooth outer bark. Dark red-brown branches.
Roots
Shallow-rooting.