Shrub - balls of small 5-petalled white flowers

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by wcutler, May 4, 2016.

  1. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

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    This shrub is very common; I just don't think I know what it is. The leaves remind me of Hawthorn leaves in shape and Aquilegia leaflets in shape and their un-stiff appearance. The flowers look just like Hawthorn flowers to me. No thorns though. Red stems.

    Are there Hawthorn shrubs? Surely it's Rosaceae.
    WhiteFlowerBalls_Bayshore_Cutler_20160504_155932.jpg WhiteFlowerBalls_Bayshore_Cutler_20160504_155607.jpg WhiteFlowerBalls_Bayshore_Cutler_20160504_155653.jpg WhiteFlowerBalls_Bayshore_Cutler_20160504_160346.jpg
     
  2. Tyrlych

    Tyrlych Rising Contributor 10 Years

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    Yes, Rosaceae, - Spiraea sp.
     
  3. Silver surfer

    Silver surfer Generous Contributor 10 Years

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  4. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

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    Great. Thank you both. I guessed Spiraea for this one with the yellowish leaves, red flower buds not open yet, didn't occur to me that they were the same genus. Is this one Spiraea x bumalda? I'm looking at a page with options nicely narrowed down to three: Spiraea species comparison.
    Spiraea_ComoxCardero_Cutler_20160428_P1220671.JPG
     
  5. Silver surfer

    Silver surfer Generous Contributor 10 Years

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  6. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

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    Thanks. I see one page with Spiraea japonica 'Goldflame' that shows red leaf edges like in my photo
    Buy Spiraea japonica Goldflame (Hardhack) in the UK
    but of course I would never recognize when I grower was using the wrong name.

    It was the description of the "the margin of the leaf will retain a red tinge for several months" for bumalda on the Spiraea species comparison page
    that made me think it might be that.
    Confusingly, there are also pages showing S. x bumalda 'Goldflame'.
    Goldflame Spirea (Spiraea x bumalda 'Goldflame') at Dutch Growers Garden Centre

    Here are a few more photos. The leaves seem to have both elliptic and lanceolate shapes.
    Spiraea_ComoxCardero_Cutler_20160428_P1220664.JPG Spiraea_ComoxCardero_Cutler_20160428_P1220665.JPG Spiraea_ComoxCardero_Cutler_20160428_P1220666.JPG
     
  7. Silver surfer

    Silver surfer Generous Contributor 10 Years

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  8. wcutler

    wcutler Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout 10 Years

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    Perfect - I love it when they reduce things to a single name.
    Spiraea japonica 'Goldflame' it is.
    Thank you!
     

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