The AW Japanese Spirea has more rounded leaves that turn a good orange or red fall color while 'Froebel' has narrower, more pointed leaves that turn a yellow fall color.

Hi,
Thank you for your comment! :)
This spiraea and 'Anthony Waterer' were planted by a previous owner over 30 years ago. The 'Anthony Waterer' tag was intact but this plant's tag was broken. Comparing it to 'Anthony Waterer', this spiraea has lighter pink flowers, larger leaves, is slightly taller, and turns shades of deep red in the fall.
Online research led me to think it may be the cultivar which Missouri Botanical Garden describes as having leaves which turn shades of burgundy to wine red in the fall. (https://www.missouribotanicalg...)
This plant also looked similar to Chicago Botanic Garden photo images at:
(https://www.chicagobotanic.org...)

I also found several other online photos that are similar to my plant. However, I am content with this as a spiraea cultivar of uncertain identity/ NOID since I cannot compare them in person.

'Anthony Waterer' in rear and this, pruned lower, in front. Years ago, they were side by side.

Wow! This is not so easy. In the photo the light pink flower clusters and wider leaves in the very front, sort of to the left, looks AW to me. The rest looks different, probably not Froebel. There are so many cultivars that are possible. I do think there has been some mixing up in the nursery trade of various cultivars.

And actually, 'Anthony Waterer' is the darker pink. I have a second one tagged on that it matches that was also planted by the prior owner. Maybe in all day full Sun it would be lighter pink but mine is a hot pink.

ILPARW said: Wow! This is not so easy. In the photo the light pink flower clusters and wider leaves in the very front, sort of to the left, looks AW to me. The rest looks different, probably not Froebel. There are so many cultivars that are possible. I do think there has been some mixing up in the nursery trade of various cultivars.

My experience of AW Spirea came from my native Midwestern, Chicago region. Therefore, it could be that Eastern vs Midwestern nurseries are using different strains of the cultivar.