Autumn Bride Heuchera / White Snakeroot

Spiraea thunbergii 'Ogon'

Family: RosaceaeNative: Japan and China (specific cultivar developed for garden use)

A deciduous shrub known for its slender, willow-like golden-yellow leaves and arching branches. It produces small white flowers in early spring.

Light: Full sun to partial shade; 6+ hours of direct sun maximizes the golden foliage color.
Water: Moderate; water regularly during the first growing season to establish a deep root system. Once established, it is moderately drought-tolerant.
Growth: Perennial deciduous shrub; mounding and arching habit, typically reaching 3 to 5 feet in height and width.

Care instructions

Plant in full sun for best leaf color, though it tolerates light shade. Keep soil moist but well-drained. Prune after flowering to maintain shape.

Full sun to partial shade; 6+ hours of direct sun maximizes the golden foliage color.

Moderate; water regularly during the first growing season to establish a deep root system. Once established, it is moderately drought-tolerant.

Prefers moist, well-drained loamy soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH (6.0 - 7.0).

USDA zones 4-8

Perennial deciduous shrub; mounding and arching habit, typically reaching 3 to 5 feet in height and width.

Early spring; features clusters of small, five-petaled white flowers that appear before or with the new leaves.

Propagated via softwood cuttings in early summer or by late-winter hardwood cuttings.

Generally pest and disease resistant, though it can occasionally suffer from aphids, leaf spot, or powdery mildew in humid conditions.

Spiraea x vanhouttei (larger, broader leaves) and Spiraea japonica 'Goldmound' (shorter, more compact, pink flowers).

The cultivar name 'Ogon' means 'gold' in Japanese, referring to the vibrant chartreuse/yellow foliage that lasts throughout the summer.