Group/Class:  Empire Collection

Brand:  Star Roses and Plants

Description:

This variety features burgundy emerging foliage that transitions to a rich green; clusters of lovely pink blooms start in late spring and then appear sporadically throughout the season; has a dense mounded habit perfect for landscapes

Ornamental Features

Empire® Ice Dragon™ Spirea features showy clusters of pink flowers at the ends of the branches from late spring to late summer. It has forest green deciduous foliage which emerges burgundy in spring. The serrated pointy leaves turn an outstanding red in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Empire® Ice Dragon™ Spirea is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Empire® Ice Dragon™ Spirea is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Empire® Ice Dragon™ Spirea will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Empire® Ice Dragon™ Spirea makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.