Sorbaria
Sorbaria has traditionally been considered a landscape plant and is relatively new to the cut flower scene. ‘Cherry on Top’ is an ever-changing plant that is as much of a treat in the flower field or garden as it is in the vase. Foliage emerges pink and bronze and matures into a beautiful deep green with age – the flower stalks emerge as white plumes that transform into beautiful red seed pods which can be used in fall arrangements. You can cut these branches at different times in the season depending on your needs. The shrub will max out at about 5 feet in height and width and is very cold hardy and tolerant of most conditions. This is a false spiraea that really has it all!
Everything You Need to Know
Ordering
What are Bare Roots?
Where we Ship
We ship bare roots to the lower 48 states and Alaska via FedEx. (Sorry, Hawaii!)
When we Ship
All Bare Roots will ship in March 2026. Specific ship/delivery dates cannot be accommodated. You will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking information as soon as your order is on its way. *Clematis will be shipped separately from other bare roots.*
Order Minimums
All woody and bare root perennial varieties (with the exception of Hydrangea and Clematis) are sold in bundles of 10. Hydrangea are sold in bundles of 9 or 16, depending on the variety, as indicated in the product description. The minimum order is 4 total bundles of any variety excluding Clematis.
Clematis is sold in bundles of 25 roots. Clematis may be purchased individually, or alongside other bare root items. It will be shipped separately, and therefore does not count towards the 4 item minimum applicable to all other bare roots. Please see our shipping rules below.
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Active Orders
Order Confirmation
You will receive a confirmation email from info@farmerbailey.com shortly after placing your order. You will receive another email in February 2026 once we have a clearer idea as to exactly when your order will be received.
Substitutions and Shortages
In the unlikely event of an unexpected shortage, we will reach out to you to find a solution; be that a substitution, refund, or a combination thereof.
Cancellations
Orders may be cancelled up until February 1, 2026. Farmer Bailey retains a 10% cancellation fee on all canceled orders and order items.
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Shipping
Shipping
Bare Roots will ship via FedEx in March 2026 at a flat rate of $25 per box. 6 bundles fill one box, excluding Clematis.
So 4-6 bundles ship for $25, 7-12 bundles ship for $50, and so forth.
*Shipping to Alaska is $75 per box.
Clematis orders ship at a flat rate of $10 regardless of order size. Clematis may be ordered along with other bare root items, and doing so will add $10 to the shipping charge. So, one box of bare roots plus any Clematis will ship for $35.
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Damaged/Missing Items
Damaged Bare Roots
You may see a bit of mold on the roots, but this is normal. Simply wash it off and plant immediately. As a precaution you can treat the roots with a fungicide or biofungicide, but this isn't necessary. Small broken branches are also of little concern. Just prune off any broken bits and the plant will recover quickly. The root system is the important part at this stage in the game.
Damage in transit is unlikely, but always a possibility when shipping plant material, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or frustration if this occurs. But fear not! We will work with you to make things right.
Claims. To file a claim, fill out this form within 24 hours of receiving your order. Based on our assessment, we'll issue the necessary refund(s) right away. We are unable to accept liability for bare root non-viability if no claim was made at the time of the roots' arrival. It is possible our team will request that you plant the bare roots in question and follow up based on the outcome of the roots on or after June 1st. Farmer Bailey will not accept claims on bare roots after June 1st.
Please note: transactions completed using PayPal Express as the payment method may only be eligible for credit at www.FarmerBailey.com. Farmer Bailey Inc. reserves the right to issue discount code in place of a cash refund in these instances.
What You'll Receive
Bare root woody plants are just that! Plants with bare roots. They are dug from the field where they were grown, are washed and then stored in the perfect climate over the winter months. This process has many benefits.
Soil is heavy and messy to ship. Removing the soil makes it possible to bring in these hard to find plants from Holland where they are grown by the very folks that breed them.
Soil also can harbor insects and pathogens, so removing plants from soil helps satisfy import requirements of the USDA and ensures you are receiving healthy disease free plant material. The plants are harvested in a dormant state and held that way until they are shipped. They won't even know they have changed countries when they wake up in your garden or field in the springtime.
Our woody plants are grown in the field in Holland for 1 year before shipping to you. They are pinched a couple of times during the growing season resulting in a stocky well branched plant that will have a good structure on arrival.
These plants will establish quickly in 2025 and you may be able to start harvesting as soon as 2026 on the faster maturing crops. Height will vary, but in general they will be around 12-16" in height.
What To Do With It
All of these plants will ship to you in March at a time approprate for planting. They will be just coming out of dormancy. You may see swelling buds or a bit of new growth, but in general they will be in a dormant state and may look a little dead. Don't worry! They will wake up.
You may see a bit of mold on the roots but this is completely normal. Simply wash it off and plant immediately. As a precaution you can treat the roots with a fungicide or biofungicide, but this isn't necessary. Small broken branches are also of little concern. Just prune off any broken bits and the plant will recover quickly. The root system is the important part at this stage in the game.
If you can't plant immediately on arrival store your bare roots in the cooler. Keep them damp and wrapped in plastic as dry roots are the kiss of death for this type of product. The cold will delay their growth. Keep them from freezing. You can either pot them into 1 gallon pots or plant them directly into your prepared soil. Just make sure to plant them within a few days of arrival. They are waking up and are ready to grow, and they will decline quickly if they are not given soil, water and sunshine.
If they arrive before you can plant outside or before it is reliably above freezing outdoors, pot them, and put them back into your cooler until spring advances. They will start to grow new roots immediately. When you see new buds on the trees and shrubs outdoors it is time to bring them out.
To be honest I am being overly cautious in my recommendations, but these these plants aren't cheap. They are a long term investment that will pay for themselves many times over if you get them through this brief period of transition. Read the directions and success sure to follow.
It is a carefully orchestrated process to get plants quickly from their storage conditions to you so please do your part and be ready to plant them on arrival. There is no reason that these plants will experience any stress if you prepare for their arrival.
Growing Guides
Click here to access all of our comprehensive growing guides.
| Common Name | False Spirea |
| Genus | Sorbaria |
| Species | S. sorbifolia |
| Family | Rosaceae |
| Life Cycle | Hardy Deciduous Shrub (suckering, colony-forming) |
| Format | 4″ pots |
| Plug Care | Plant young shrubs promptly upon arrival. Plants should be dormant and can withstand cold temperatures - if the plants have broken dormancy and below freezing temperatures are forecasted, protect tender new growth. Keep soil evenly moist but well-drained until established; water regularly while new roots are developing and during periods with no rain. |
| Netting / Staking | Not required; panicles are typically held well above foliage on sturdy stems. |
| Hardiness | Very hardy (many cultivars reportedly hardy from USDA Zones 2 to 8). Prefers cool to moderate growing climates. |
| Spacing | Space 4 to 6 feet apart for standard cultivars; allow 6 to 8 feet if you want a full colony effect as these will sucker and form clumps. |
| Soil Preference | Best in average to organically rich, well-drained soils; tolerates a range of moisture conditions. |
| Sun Requirement | Full sun gives best flower and foliage color. |
| Pruning | These are vigorous shrubs that can be pruned at any time. Remove root suckers where unwanted to contain spread. |
| When to Plant | Plant in spring swiftly upon arrival. If the plant is still dormant it can withstand below freezing temperatures. If it has broken dormancy, tender new growth needs protection from frost cloth. |
| Harvesting | Harvest can occur at different stages, whenever the plant is needed. Harvest flowers when panicles are partly open, many growers cut when buds are tight but show a hint of opening so they’ll continue to open in water. Cut early in the morning when the plants are hydrated. Foliage can be used but immature foliage might wilt rather quickly. For the longest vase life wait until the seed pods form for late summer and fall arrangements. |
| Post Harvest Care | Re-cut stems and plunge immediately into cool, clean water with a floral preservative for best results. Strip lower foliage that falls below the water line. False spirea’s large panicles are excellent when conditioned (hydrated overnight in cool water) and benefit from frequent water changes and recutting. Keep stems cool for maximum vase life. |
| Diseases / Insects | This is a vigorous plant with very few pest or disease issues. |
| Bailey's Notes |
Sorbaria ‘Cherry on Top’ Sorbaria has typically been considered a landscape plant and is relatively new to the cut flower scene. ‘Cherry on Top’ is an ever-changing plant that is as much of a treat in the flower field or garden as it is in the vase. Foliage emerges pink and bronze and matures into a beautiful green with age – the flower stalks emerge as white plumes that transform into beautiful red seed pods which can be used in fall arrangements. You can cut these branches at different times in the season depending on your needs. The shrub will max out at about 5 feet in height and width and is very cold hardy and tolerant of most conditions. This is a false spiraea that really has it all! |
| Resources | NA |