The Dawes Arboretum

Common name: Lavender Princess™ Japanese spirea

Family: Rosaceae (rose family)

Synonym: Spiraea × bumalda 'KLMnine'

Distribution: Species native to e. Asia

Hardiness: USDA Zone 4

Life form: Deciduous shrub/Subshrub

Comments: A small, compact, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub growing to 3' tall and wide that was selected by Roy Klehm of Klehm's Songsparrow Nursery in Avalon, Wisconsin for having deep lavender flowers and excellent fall color. A tough plant for hot, dry sites and is tolerant of poor soils as long as the drainage is adequate. Leaves are alternate, deep green in the summer, sharply toothed along the margins, 1-2½" long. Fall color on this selection is red to purple. Flowers open in late May and continue to bloom intermittently throughout the growing season as 2-3" lavender pink clusters. Plant in full sun, well-drained soil in the spring or fall.