Spirea is a perennial grown for its red blooms, which open in fall and return year after year. It's hardy across USDA zones 5 through 11 and shrugs off deer. Its fall flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies.
Zones
5-11
pH Range
5-6.8
Sun
Part Sun
Days to Maturity
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What Spirea is
Spirea grows as a perennial and reaches around four feet at maturity. It blooms red in fall. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Spirea
Spirea grows in USDA zones 5 through 11. Spirea does best in part sun — at least 4 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 6.8. It needs a growing season of at least 145 frost-free days and about 500 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
5-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 6.8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Part Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
Data pending
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost Tolerance
-23°F
The lowest temperature it shrugs off — below this, expect damage without cover.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Mature Height
4 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Chill Hours
500+
Winter hours below ~45°F it needs to fruit — too-mild winters can leave it bloom-shy.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost-Free Days
145+
The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Start the season right
Plant spirea in part sun with at least 4 hours of direct sun.
Match the soil
Spirea prefers pH 5 to 6.8 (USDA PLANTS). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.
Harvest at its peak
Cut spirea blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — spirea isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Spirea offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Spirea thrives
Spirea is hardy across USDA zones 5 through 11. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 5–11·Where Spirea growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Spirea can grow in these states:
See if Spirea will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether spirea actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Spirea in my zone?
Spirea grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Spirea?
Time spirea to your own season rather than the calendar, leaving enough of the season for its 145-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Spirea need?
Spirea does well in partial sun — around 4 hours of direct sun, and it takes some afternoon shade in stride. That flexibility makes it a good match for a bed the house or a nearby tree shades for part of the day. A Growable Ground report maps how the sun actually falls on your land, hour by hour, so you can set it where the light lines up.
What soil does Spirea need?
Spirea prefers soil pH 5 to 6.8 (USDA PLANTS). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Spirea attract pollinators?
Yes — spirea's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies. (Source: Pollinator Partnership.)
Is Spirea safe for pets?
Spirea is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data. Always supervise pets around new plantings. (Source: ASPCA.)