As the years go by it is natural that gardening becomes harder and more challenging than in our more energetic youth. I have a strip of cultivated soil at the front of my home which I decided I really didn't want to have to deal with any more, having enough work to do at the back of my home, so I edged the area with pre-rusted heavy duty (14 gauge) Corten steel which I hammered into place. I then put down Melcourt Sylvabark Pine Mini Mulch. Perhaps it wasn't the prettiest solution but I didn't want to pave it or do anything permanent to it which, if I decided to plant something in it later, would be problematic. As it happens, a year later I did want to plant something. The more I looked at it over time, the more it cried out to me 'plant something, plant something'. So I have planted something and that something is four Spiraea japonica 'Goldflame' shrubs which achieve a height and spread of about 3ft or 1 metre.
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| Spiraea japonica 'Goldflame' |
This is a link to the RHS webpage describing this shrub. RHS Spiraea japonica Goldflame RHS states the hardiness is H6, hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15). I have planted the shrubs (the poor things) in a sunny but exposed position in my West Yorkshire garden high on the Pennines, so they will be subject to all that weather can throw at them. I'll soon find out just how tough they are. We've just had a few days of seriously windy and wild days and the plants look just fine.  |
| Spiraea japonica 'Goldflame' |
The label states: "A busy, deciduous shrub with narrowly lanceolate to ovate leaves that emerge reddish-orange, becoming bright yellow and eventually green. Deep rose-red flowers in summer. It achieves a height and spready of 100cm x 100cm. Avoid pruning in winter. Prune as required in early to mid spring to within one or two buds of the older woody framework. Suitable for full sun or partial shade in moist, well-drained fertile soil.
