Are Spirea Shrubs Evergreen?

Are Spirea Shrubs Evergreen?

If you’re looking for a versatile blooming shrub, it’s hard to go wrong with spirea.

The many species within the Spiraea genus are easy to grow and hardy in USDA Zones 4 to 8, depending on the type.

They deliver three-season interest, with clusters of flowers appearing in either May to June or July to September, and eye-catching foliage that turns into a riot of colors in autumn.

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What’s not to love? Well, if you’re seeking year-round foliage, this shrub can’t give you that. Spirea plants are not evergreen.

These deciduous plants lose their leaves and go dormant in winter.

That may be a minor issue that you can easily work around, given all the positive traits of these plants.

Or maybe its lack of evergreen foliage will disqualify this woody shrub from a spot in your garden design.

Our guide to growing spirea covers how to cultivate these plants in your landscape.

But before you decide whether this shrub is right for you, let’s look at these topics:

Before you decide to grow spireas and then are disappointed in their winter appearance, it’s important to remember that while they are perennials, they are not evergreens.

What’s the difference? Perennials live year after year, though they may experience a period of dormancy in between seasons of growth.

Some live for a couple of years, others grow for decades.

Evergreens are perennials that keep most of their leaves (or needles) throughout the year. They may shed a portion of older foliage on occasion but never become bare.

Those plants that drop their leaves during the winter months are