Northwest Blooms · Shrubs
Spiraea betulifolia ‘Tor’
Tor Spirea
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Height
- 2 to 3 feet
- Width
- 2 to 3 feet
- Flower color
- White, in dense clusters
- Foliage color
- Dark green leaves with a glossy appearance
- Bloom time
- Late spring to early summer
- Light
- Prefers full sun
- Water
- Moderate to low
- Maintenance
- Low, prune to maintain shape
- Growing zone
- USDA Zones 2 to 7
- Wildlife
- Attracts bees and butterflies
About this plant
Spiraea betulifolia 'Tor' is a deciduous shrub known for its abundant clusters of small, white flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer. These delicate blooms are held in dense, rounded clusters, creating a soft, cloud-like effect against the plant's dark green, finely textured foliage. As the flowers fade, the plant's leaves turn vibrant shades of red and orange in the fall, adding seasonal interest.
'Tor' is valued for its low-maintenance nature and versatility, making it a popular choice for mass plantings, borders, and groundcover. The plant's consistent beauty through the seasons, from its spring blooms to its autumn foliage, ensures its place as a dependable ornamental shrub.
Works well in
Sun Gardens · Slopes & Banks · Borders · Pollinator Gardens
Companion plants
Irises · Italian buckthorn · Sneezeweed · Fountain grass · Rock cress · Flowering quince
Design tip
Plant ‘Tor’ in broad drifts rather than as isolated specimens to emphasize its naturally rounded habit and cloud-like clusters of white flowers. As summer gives way to fall, the same planting shifts character as the foliage develops warm red and orange tones.
