The Genus Spirea contains many species and hybrids that are hardy to Zone 4 USDA. The coldest locations in Truckee are actually Zone 3 but the Spireas described here are hardy in these areas too.
Spireas are small to medium sized flowering shrubs. Most have exceptional fall color. We have a beautiful native (Spirea densiflora) which lives in many Truckee locations. Large stands can be found at the west end of Donner Lake and all the way up to Donner Summit. This Spirea is my favorite for many reasons. I planted some at my house many years ago less than three feet from the road. Every year they get many feet of snow dumped on them and rebound quickly in the spring. The flowers are pink puff balls and are just drying up this week. They will be in bloom at higher elevations through most of August. In fall the leaves turn orange-red. Spirea densiflora rarely grows more than three feet tall and it can tolerate partial shade.

I am also fond of several cultivars of Spirea japonica. These cultivars are also very tolerant of snow loading. Goldflame grows 2-3 feet tall. Its new growth is mottled with red yellow and gold. Its flowers are dark pink and the foliage turns red in the fall. Goldmound is often planted as a contrast to green shrubs. It features bright chartreuse foliage , pink flowers and grows only 2 feet tall. Little Princess and Magic Carpet are shrubby, mounding groundcovers, which grow 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide. Little Princess will tolerate some shade. Spirea nipponica ,Snowmound and Halward’s Silver have also been successfully planted in Truckee. These Spireas are more upright and are less tolerant of un- natural snow loading. They do best over winter if bundled up vertically and tied with plastic tree tape. Both cultivars are covered with masses of white flowers in spring. At maturity these shrubs will be four feet high and four feet wide.

All Spireas benefit from regular fertilization with an organic bloom fertilizer.