Spiraea japonica Darts Red

Spirea Darts Red is an undemanding deciduous shrub, characterized by abundant flowering that is highly extended in time. In landscape design, this variety is especially valued for its high frost resistance and immunity to air pollution, which makes it possible to grow it within the city.

A description of the spirea variety Darts Red and a photo of the shrub are presented below.

Description spirea Darts Red

Spiraea Darts Red (Spiraea japonica Dart’s Ded) is a low growing plant with a compact crown. The height of the bush does not exceed 80 cm, the diameter is on average 90-100 cm. The average annual growth of spirea varies from 10 to 20 cm, depending on the growing conditions.

The shoots of the Darts Red variety are straight, but strongly branched, as a result of which the structure of the shrub is very dense – gaps are practically not visible between the branches. Young shoots are painted in a rich red color, which eventually turns into a light brown hue.

The leaves of the variety are small, lanceolate, slightly elongated. The color of the Darts Red spirea foliage changes over time: young leaves are pale, pinkish-red, however, soon the leaf plate acquires a bright green tint.

The color of the flowers varies from pale pink to bright ruby. They form large flat inflorescences on the shoots of the current year. The variety blooms from June to August. Repeated flowering is possible, but with less intensity. It falls at the end of September-October. The fruits of Darts Red spirea are represented by small leaflets.

The root system of the plant is well developed and strongly branched.

Planting and caring for Japanese spirea Darts Red

There is nothing difficult in planting the Darts Red spirea and the subsequent care of the shrub. Like most varieties of spirea, this plant grows best in well-lit areas. In such conditions, it blooms profusely and actively forms young shoots, however, with light shading, Darts Red also develops well. However, the lack of light affects the color of the foliage of the shrub and the saturation of the inflorescences – in the shade, spirea flowers can become faded. In addition, the branches will become woody much more slowly due to the lack of light.

Spirea is undemanding to the type of soil, although it prefers moderately moist loose soil of medium acidity. Planting on poor soils is also possible, but in this case, the lack of nutrients will inhibit the growth of the shrub. Poor soil is recommended to be corrected before planting by applying organic fertilizers.

Preparation of planting material and site

Spirea Japanese Darts Red quickly takes root in almost all soils, so it is not necessary to prepare a site for planting plants, especially if the soil on the site is loose and fertile. Only with severe scarcity of the soil is it recommended to dig up the site and apply organic fertilizers 2-3 weeks before planting.

Planting material is carefully inspected before being placed in open ground – in the presence of mechanical damage, plants can easily become infected with a fungus. In addition, it is necessary to cut off the roots that stand out from the total mass. To do this, use sharp garden shears, after which an even cut should remain. If you correct the root system with a blunt instrument, the formation of small fractures on the roots is possible. Because of this, the seedling may not take root in open ground.

Spirea shoots can also be slightly shortened, but not more than 30%.

Planting Japanese Spirea Darts Red

The planting pattern for Darts Red spirea is quite simple:

1. Dig a planting hole in the selected area. The depth and diameter of the pit depend on the size of the root system of the seedling – it must be freely placed inside.
2. Drainage is placed at the bottom of the hole. To do this, use gravel, broken bricks or clay shards.
3. A soil mixture is poured over the drainage layer based on peat, soddy soil and fine-grained river sand, taken in a ratio of 1:1:1. From it form a low hill.
4. A seedling is installed on this hill, carefully distributing its roots along the slopes. In this case, the ends of the roots should not rest against the walls of the planting pit.
5. The root system is carefully covered with the top layer of soil from the garden plot. The root neck of the spirea after deepening the seedling should be located at the level of the soil.
6. Immediately after planting, the near-stem area is lightly pressed down. A shallow furrow is dug along the perimeter, in which moisture will accumulate during irrigation in the future.
7. After this, the plantings are moderately watered.

Watering and top dressing

The drought resistance of the Darts Red variety is average – the shrub does not tolerate prolonged heat. Young seedlings are especially vulnerable to drought, so the bushes are regularly watered.

It is not necessary to feed the spirea, however, in conditions of scarcity of soil, it is possible to fertilize the near-stem area with liquid top dressing. To do this, fermented mullein or herbal infusion is introduced into the soil. Recommended dates: early spring-mid-summer.

Trimming

Pruned Japanese spirea in the spring. To do this, remove damaged and dried branches. Old bushes are pruned to the very base in order to rejuvenate the plant. Such pruning will provoke intensive growth of young shoots.

Preparation for winter

Despite the fact that the Darts Red spirea is a frost-resistant horticultural crop, it is recommended to cover annual seedlings for the winter, especially in the Northern regions.

In the middle lane, snow is used as a shelter, which is thrown onto the bush in a thick layer. Where winters are especially severe, the plants are spudded and mulched with peat before the onset of the first frost. Spirea shoots are tied and gently bent to the ground, laying on a previously laid out burlap. In order for the branches not to unbend, they are fixed on the ground with the help of special brackets. Then the connected shoots are covered with a warming cloth.

You can learn more about the features of landing Darts Red spirea from the video below:

Reproduction

Most often, Darts Red spirea is propagated vegetatively:

• layering;
• cuttings;
• divisions.

It is also possible to breed shrubs with seeds, but this method is not very popular.

The easiest way to propagate spirea is by diverting shoots from the mother bush. The algorithm for the formation of layers is as follows:

1. In the spring, a branch is selected on the bush in the lower part and bent, but so that it does not break.
2. The end of the shoot is buried in the ground and fixed with a heavy object or staple.
3. Layers are watered from time to time, in the same way as the parent bush.
4. By autumn, this branch forms a full-fledged root system. The allotted part of the plant is cut and moved to another place.

The next most popular method is propagation of spirea by cuttings. Cuttings are prepared according to the following scheme:

1. In the spring, a young shoot is cut from the bush.
2. The cut off part is divided into 3-4 cuttings.
3. The bottom of each of them must be cleaned of foliage. There should be 4 to 5 leaves on each part of the split branch. They are cut in half.
4. After that, the planting material is soaked for 10 hours in “Epin”. Dosage: 1 ml of the drug per 2 liters of water.
5. Then the lower cut of the cuttings is sprinkled with “Kornevin” or its equivalent.
6. The next step is planting spirea in containers with wet sand. The cuttings are deepened by 2-3 cm at an angle of 45 °.
7. The boxes are covered with foil and cleaned in the shade. Every 3-4 days, planting material must be moistened.
8. With the onset of frost, the container is added dropwise to the site and sprinkled with dry foliage. A wooden box is placed on top.
9. The next year, the cuttings are planted in a permanent place in open ground.

By dividing the bush, only young spireas Darts Red propagate. The division procedure is as follows:

1. In March or April, the shrubs are dug up and soaked in water for 2 hours.
2. When the soil on the roots softens, it is washed off.
3. The root system of the plant is straightened and divided with a pruner or knife into 3-4 equal parts.
4. They are transplanted to a new place and moderately watered.

Diseases and pests

There are few pests in the Darts Red spirea variety. The most dangerous of them is the spider mite. The first signs of damage to this insect include the following:

• yellowing of leaves;
• the formation of thin cobwebs on the shoots;
• the appearance of small holes on the leaves and flowers.

In order to get rid of the spider mite, the bushes should be treated with insecticides. The following drugs have proven themselves well:

• Fundazol;
• “Decis”;
• “Fitoverm”;
• “Ditan”;
• Carbophos;
• Actellik.

You can also use a weak solution of Bordeaux mixture.

Of the diseases, only spotting and gray mold can be distinguished, but the Darts Red spirea is rarely sick. In case of infection, the plant is sprayed with “Fundazol”.

Spirea Darts Red Reviews

Conclusion

Spirea Darts Red is an ornamental shrub that is perfect for decorating a garden if the owner of the site does not plan to devote much time to planting. This horticultural culture develops well even with minimal care and in most regions does not need shelter for the winter.