Hatsushimo Spiraea. I found this selection in Japan, and I gave it this cultivar name which means "First Frost" in Japanese. Several years back I had purchased S. vanhouttei 'Pink Ice' in the U.K. and it wasn't worth growing. It closely resembled this selection with its "frosty" white/pink new growth. This plant looked so similar that I supposed it to be the same thing and almost didn't purchase it. But I'm glad I did. Immediately upon returning from Japan in June, 2007, I potted my specimen which of course had to be bare rooted for importation. I was expecting it to just fall over dead, but it immediately starting putting out new growth. When I took my first cuttings, they rooted like a weed. Wow! Was I surprised! On my next trip to Japan I inquired about the identity of this cultivar and several different nurserymen assured me that it was S. cantoniensis and not S. vanhouttei. It has performed spectacularly, even thriving in our heat with no burnt leaves. The fall color is a stunning pink with maroon streaks and speckles. Truly awesome! The flowers are completely lost in the spring variegated foliage, but you will love this plant if you are a variegated plant freak like me. It appears that it will be slightly smaller than the species, maybe 3-5'.
Zones 5-9
