Plant This Hydrangea Lookalike For More Butterflies, Pollinators, And Shade In Your Yard

If you like the look of creamy white puffball flower clusters but want more of a pollinator magnet than many modern hydrangeas provide, consider the classic bridal-wreath spiraea (Spiraea cantoniensis). For a frothy "bouquet" of flowers to herald spring and beckon bees and butterflies, nothing greets the season quite like bridal-wreath spiraea.

While this white-flowering shrub is something of a lookalike to the more ubiquitous hydrangea, bridal-wreath spiraea boasts charms all its own. Among them? The ability to draw a wide range of pollinators, including butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and moths. Many hydrangea cultivars sadly don't produce the kind of nectar that draws these important beauties. In addition, this spiraea is prized for its low-maintenance gardening needs and its tendency to grow quickly to add shade and privacy to your yard.

Unlike hydrangeas, where the foliage is almost as prominent as the clusters of flowers, the bright white petals are definitely the star of the show on this vase-shaped shrub with arching, flowering branches. Bridal-wreath spiraea, which is hardy in USDA Zones 5 to 8, blooms in April and May. Because it grows about 6 feet tall and wide, this ornamental shrub also offers privacy and shade. Its arching branches grow too low to the ground to host seats directly under it, but the shrub can cast a soothing shadow on plants and harried gardeners alike during the heat of the day. Bridal-wreath spiraea has a couple of cultivars, including 'Lanceata,' which bears double flowers and is also sometimes called double Reeves spirea.

Plant bridal-wreath spiraea where it can get full sun or light shade. If your goal is to create some shade for yourself, planting it in a location beside a bench is ideal. Otherwise, grow it near perennials that would otherwise be sun-scorched, such as hostas. More good news? Should you miscalculate where the shrub should be situated for shade or other needs, it can be transplanted easily. In general, you won't need to amend your soil in order to plant this spiraea unless it's unusually poor quality or doesn't drain well.

Spiraea bushes can get a bit untidy-looking without some shaping help, but don't make the mistake of trimming them at the wrong time, or you'll miss out on the chance to bring butterflies and other pollinators to the yard and garden. In the case of these special plants, pruning your spiraea bushes to keep them looking neat involves waiting for them to finish flowering during their season. That's because this shrub's flowers form on the old wood, so pruning it in late winter or early spring would prevent it from blooming in the following months.

Bridal-wreath spiraea can handle some drought, periods of high heat, and even proximity to road salt. The latter makes it useful as a privacy screen between your property and public roads. Keep an eye out for pest problems such as aphids or scale and diseases like leaf spot or powdery mildew.