I don't know if this is the old variety or new and improved . The older variety I found very invasive and I think every farm stead had them growing almost wild. Maybe this is a better one.

Hi northspruce, do you have a photo of that please?

beegood, I believe that it is a dwarf version and it's supposed to be better behaved.... hmm...

I got my False Spirea from my MIL about 15 years ago. It never did stay put over all these years. Finally this spring I dug out all of it from the flowerbed.

But, the new improved variety 'Sem' apparently isn't invasive like the original False Spirea according to this article...but it does say that once established it will send out root suckers...

http://pnwplants.wsu.edu/PlantDisplay.aspx?PlantID=807

Brenda

Thanks, Brenda!

I read in some places that it prefers dry soil, and other places state that it prefers moist soil. What does it really prefer, in your experience?

Also, how does the foliage colour change according to sun exposure?

I'll take a photo of mine when I remember. I hadn't noticed the Sem cultivar, and not sure how much difference there is. Mine would definitely be the old school stuff because the previous owners only planted things they were given. Mine is in quite dry shade under the spruce but seems to be steadily migrating towards the tap where the soil is more damp.

Mine was close to a maple tree in a flowerbed that I rarely watered because it was too far away from the house. Can't imagine how fast it would have spread had I watered it....

Brenda

I planted this in a garden with the intention of never watering. The plant did great in that aspect, for a good 4 years. Problem is, that "SEM" was advertised as non-suckering for me, and 2-3 feet high. It got nearly 4.5 feet high for me and even after digging it all out and pulling out all the roots, this spring I still have suckers EVERYWHERE in that bed. It's all entangled with a dogwood shrub, so I will have to pull the dogwood out and get the roots out.

I did a lot of research on this plant and asked a lot of questions. I see tons of little shoots out in my lawn right now and it's also got massive amounts of roots underneath the bed's rock border.

Definitely highly invasive...and I do have very heavy clay under my lawn, so even though the bed is very fluffy (making it very happy to spread), the clay lawn should have stopped it somewhat, and it did not. Also, my rock border has quickcrete under the rocks, going 6" down and it tunneled under.

Don't believe anyone who says this plant isn't invasive...the first year, not so much. The 2nd year, everything's controllable....this is year 6 for me after I removed it and dug out every root I could see...and it reappeared with a vengeance. I will be using round up, reluctantly.

That said, I do plan to put some in a pot (away from the ground) and use it as a lovely planter on the patio. It will come back year after year in zone 4, even in the planter.

specialmn1, I have been trying to get rid of this stuff for two years now. Roundup only stops the suckers for a bout a week. Dig up sucker roots, only gets some of the problem. The suckers grow faster than you can dig! It just keeps growing everywhere. It strangles everything in its path. Who ever allowed this invasive species for home use should be shaken! If you buy this stuff get a written letter from the nursery that it won't sucker and destroy your other plants.....You know they won't do that.