General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 4a -34.4 °C (-30 °F) to -31.7 °C (-25 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 9b
Plant Height: 3 to 4 feet
Plant Spread: 4 to 5 feet
Leaves: Good fall color
Deciduous
Broadleaf
Flowers: Showy
Blooms on new wood
Flower Color: Pink
Flower Time: Summer
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Other Beneficial Insects
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Drought tolerant
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Pollinators: Various insects
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil
Monoecious

Image
Common names
  • Japanese Spirea
  • Japanese Meadowsweet
  • Maybush

Photo Gallery
Location: English Gardens, Royal Oak, Michigan
Date: 2019-06-19
Location: English Gardens, Royal Oak, Michigan
Date: 2019-06-19
Location: English Gardens, Royal Oak, Michigan
Date: 2019-06-19
Location: Eagle Bay, New York
Date: 2005-07-03
Japanese Spirea (Spiraea japonica 'Neon Flash')
Location: Smith-Gilbert Gardens, Kennesaw GA
Date: 2022-05-07
Location: Reading, Pennsylvania
Date: 2023-06-16
close-up of flower clusters
Location: My garden, Pequea, Pennsylvania 17565
Date: 2017-06-13
Location: English Gardens, Royal Oak, Michigan
Date: 2019-06-19
Location: English Gardens, Royal Oak, Michigan
Date: 2019-06-19
Location: Smith-Gilbert Gardens, Kennesaw GA
Date: 2022-05-07
Location: Reading, Pennsylvania
Date: 2023-06-16
close-up of leaves
Location: Coatesville, Pennsylvania
Date: 2021-06-15
shrub in bloom
Location: My garden, Pequea, PA 17565
Date: 2016-06-13
Location: Reading, Pennsylvania
Date: 2023-06-16
lone full-sized shrub in bloom
Location: Reading, Pennsylvania
Date: 2023-06-16
two shrubs together in bloom
Location: Coatesville, Pennsylvania
Date: 2021-06-15
flower clusters
Location: Vermont
Date: 2012-07-03
Location: Vermont
Date: 2012-07-03

Date: 2009-03-27
Location: Reading, Pennsylvania
Date: 2023-06-16
full-sized shrub in bloom
Location: At a nursery
Date: 2008-06-25
Location: At a nursery
Date: 2008-06-25
Location: Coatesville, Pennsylvania
Date: 2021-06-15
line of shrubs in English-Ivy mass
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2010-06-08
Growing in part-shade
Location: Naylor, GA
Date: 2012-04-14

Date: 2002-08-03
Courtesy American Daylily and Perennials
  • Uploaded by vic
Uploaded by Newyorkrita
Uploaded by Newyorkrita
Location: Long Island, NY 
Date: 2013-06-18
Location: Long Island, NY 
Date: 2013-06-18

Date: 2011-11-02
Comments:
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Sep 12, 2018 2:33 PM concerning plant:
    This is a newer cultivar that was introduced into the trade by Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland from Japan. It is very similar to the 'Anthony Waterer' cultivar except its flowers are darker reddish-pink and it starts out with more young reddish foliage growth. It is supposed to turn reddish-purple in the fall. Some nursery sources say it blooms from June until Fall while others don't. What can happen is that a few flowers bloom in mid-Summer and then there is a lesser bloom in September, that is something that some June & early July blooming spirea species can do. If one prunes off the flowers right after blooming, then there is a better rebloom that happens. One source I saw said that it does not self-sow, so that it should not become an invasive east Asian plant into North America as many cultivars of Japanese Spirea can do. I think this cultivar is the best one of all the many Japanese Spirea cultivars.
  • Posted by Newyorkrita (North Shore, Long Island, NY ) on Oct 4, 2011 2:35 PM concerning plant:
    Neon Flash has the most vivid colored flowers of any of the Spiraea shrubs and is my personal favorite Spirea. I really recommend this plant as extra easy care and even works great for any dry difficult spots. Cut it back as much as you like to keep it in shape and any size you need it to be. Cut back after flowering in spring and it grows and reblooms again and again.

    .

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