Spiraea Nipponica Snowmound

Spiraea Nipponica Snowmound or Nippon Snowmound, is a particularly graceful spiraea bush, much prized for its prolific spring flowers. It has received the RHS Award of Garden Merit for its value as a landscape shrub for UK gardeners.
Native to Japan, Spiraea Nipponica Snowmound is a popular choice for UK gardens. Its small, rounded dark blue-green leaves emerge in spring on branches which arch up and out in an attractive vase shape. In May and June, 4 cm diameter clusters of pure white flowers with yellow centres load the branches down. The flowers are a good nectar source for butterflies, and also make excellent cut flowers for indoor arrangements. Through the summer the foliage provides an excellent backdrop for later-flowering plants. In autumn the leaves turn a bright yellow-green. 
Spiraea Nipponica Snowmound is hardy throughout most of the UK, growing to a height and spread of 1.5-2.5 meters in 10 to 20 years. Plant 1.2-1.8 metres apart for hedging. After the blooms are done for the year, cut back all flowering stems to a strong pair of leaves, and cut out 20% of older stems back to the base to ensure vigorous growth and heavy flowering the next year. An overgrown Nippon Snowmound can be cut back hard after flowering to renovate the plant.
Nippon Snowmound will grow well in any well-drained soil except heavy clay, in an exposed or sheltered position in full sun or partial shade. It is very pollution tolerant and thus suitable for urban landscapes. 
This lovely, heritage cultivar is a natural choice for a country cottage garden. Spiraea Nipponica Snowmound makes a good informal hedge with its season-long foliage show and spring display of blooms, either along the boundary of a garden or to screen a seating area. Its tolerance to urban pollution makes it a good choice to plant next to a drive or along a roadside. 
Planted towards the back of a mixed border, its spring flowers will create a spectacular show, while the foliage will provide a good backdrop for later-flowering plants. It’s a great addition to a wildlife or woodland garden, where it will grow happily in dappled shade and provide a nectar source for butterflies. In a rural landscape, Spiraea Nipponica Snowmound will be an effective ground cover on a slope.
The old-fashioned charm of Nippon Snowmound will be a welcome addition to your city or country garden, with its brilliant spring show of white flowers!