Bridal Wreath Spirea

Question

We have about 12-15 Bridal Wreath spirea along our backyard. We have been here for about 10 years (the plants longer) and they have always bloomed in the spring. Last year several plants didn’t bloom. This year only about one and a half of the plants have bloomed (and not very much). We have had two really bad winters on the East Coast in the last two years. Could this have caused this problem? If not, what would cause this? Are the plants dead or should we cut them back almost to the ground and hope they come back?

Answer 1

A hard winter may mean that parts of the bush (even the whole thing) died back. For more information on how to remedy cold damaged shrubs, please visit the following link:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/shgen/winter-damage-of-shrubs.htm

You can hard prune the whole plant to the ground after flowering to re-invigorate it.

Good luck.

For more information on the care of spirea, please visit the following link:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/spirea/growing-spirea-shrubs.htm

Answer 2

Thank you for the quick reply! If most of the bush did die back, will pruning it to the ground help it to come back?

Answer 3

It certainly might and is worth the try.

Answer 4

Hi! Again, thank you for the quick reply and your help! I do not know a lot about gardening but I am learning. If we do cut them back to the ground, when should we expect them (if any) to start to come back? Will it take until next season? I would just like to have an idea so that we can make a decision on whether to try to get them to regrow or remove them completely.

Answer 5

Hi! I forgot to ask you this. We are in Eastern Pennsylvania and didn’t have too bad of a winter until February and then it seemed that all of winter was condensed into that month with snowstorm after snowstorm and freezing temperatures. We also had about 6 – 8 inches of heavy, wet snow in the first week of March. Would like have delayed the blooming of the Bridal Wreath Spireas? Should we wait longer to see if the rest of them bloom before pruning any back or just take the plunge? Thank you!

Answer 6

Bridal wreath spirea blooms in early to mid spring. We haven’t surpassed the mid-spring point yet, so I would give it some more time before taking the hard pruning plunge. And, yes, cold hard winters can affect the onset of blooming.

Here is a blog by someone who cut their spirea to the ground and shows the progress the shrub made over time. This will give you a good idea of what to expect:
http://cultivatorscorner.com/pruning-spirea

Answer 7

Thank you so much! This has really helped! We will probably wait a little longer to see if the others green up.