Anthony Waterer Spirea
Anthony Waterer Spirea
The Classic Spirea With Flat Rose-Pink Flower Clusters
Anthony Waterer Spirea (Spiraea japonica 'Anthony Waterer') is the time-tested garden standard — a tidy, mounded shrub topped all summer with broad, flat clusters of rich rose-pink flowers above blue-green foliage that sometimes shows cream-and-pink variegation. Deadheading brings repeat bloom into fall. Tough, drought-tolerant, and deer-resistant, with bees and butterflies on the blooms, it's a dependable foundation and border shrub for gardens in Edina, Woodbury, and Maple Grove.
Anthony Waterer Plant Details
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Spiraea japonica 'Anthony Waterer' |
| Mature Size | 2–3 ft. tall, 3–4 ft. wide |
| Hardiness Zone | 3–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a — fully hardy) |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Bloom Time | Early summer into fall with deadheading |
| Flower Color | Rich rose-pink |
| Soil | Adaptable — tolerates clay; prefers good drainage |
| Winter Hardiness | Reliable to -40°F once established |
| Deer Resistance | Usually avoided by deer |
Landscape Uses in Minnesota
Classic foundation and border shrub: A dependable, mounded shrub for foundations, low hedges, and mixed borders. Space 3 feet apart.
Pollinator gardens: Bees and butterflies love the flat flower clusters. Pair with coneflower, catmint, and grasses.
Best Time to Plant in Minnesota
Plant in spring (late April–May) or early fall (late August–mid September). Adaptable; water through establishment.
How to Plant Anthony Waterer Spirea
Dig a hole twice the root ball width at the same depth, mixing in compost. Set the crown level, backfill, water well, and mulch 2–3 inches deep. Space 3 feet apart.
Watering Anthony Waterer Spirea
First year: Water deeply every 2–3 days at first, then weekly. Stop 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes.
After year one: Drought-tolerant — water only during extended dry spells.
Q: How do I keep it blooming?
Shear off spent flower clusters after the first flush to spur repeat bloom into fall.
Q: Will it survive a Minnesota winter?
Easily — a tough, long-lived classic spirea.
Q: Is it deer-resistant?
Generally yes — deer usually avoid spirea.
Q: Why is it so popular?
It's a reliable, low-maintenance bloomer that's been a landscape staple for generations.
You May Also Like
Double Play Doozie Spirea (Spiraea): A seedless, reblooming red spirea.
Little Spark Spirea (Spiraea japonica): A compact spirea with fiery foliage.
Coneflower (Echinacea): A native pollinator companion.
How Many Anthony Waterer Spirea Do I Need?
For a low hedge or foundation row, space plants 3 feet apart (mature width 3–4 ft):
| Run Length | Plants Needed |
|---|---|
| 10 ft | 4 |
| 20 ft | 7 |
| 30 ft | 10 |
| 40 ft | 13–14 |
In a mixed border, plant in groups of 3 spaced 3 feet apart for one continuous rose-pink mound.
Anthony Waterer Spirea Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: Blue-green leaves emerge, often flecked with cream-and-pink variegation on the new tips.
- Summer: Broad, flat clusters of rich rose-pink flowers cover the mound from early summer — a steady stream of bees and butterflies.
- Fall: Shear after the first flush and it repeat-blooms into fall while the foliage takes on bronze-red tones.
- Winter: A low, twiggy mound under the snow — cut back by half in early spring and it rebuilds fresh every year.
At a Glance
✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Drought-Tolerant
Plant It With
- Double Play Doozie Spirea — a seedless red-blooming spirea that flowers nonstop beside the classic.
- Little Spark Spirea — fiery gold foliage for color contrast at the same compact scale.
- Magnus Coneflower — native rosy-purple blooms that echo the pink clusters and share the pollinators.
- Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass — upright wheat-gold plumes behind the low pink mound.
Is Anthony Waterer Spirea Right for Your Yard?
A near-automatic choice for a sunny, well-drained foundation bed or border edge — it handles clay, drought, and deer, stays a tidy 2–3 feet, and asks only for one early-spring cutback. Not a fit for shady beds: with less than about 6 hours of sun the bloom thins out and the mound gets sparse.