Spiraea
Spiraea ‘Bridal Wreath’ (Spiraea x Vanhouttei)
This is the traditional Bridal Wreath spiraea that has been a staple in gardens for decades. It can grow quite large upon maturity – about 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide - with loads of elegantly arching branches for cutting. If branches are cut when the buds are full but not quite open, they will continue to open in the vase. These branches are incredible for adding movement to spring arrangements but can be used in mixed bunches or anywhere else a spray of fresh spring-flowering branches is required. This variety has withstood the test of time, and although some might regard it as ‘old fashioned’, it is timeless in its beauty and usefulness. (Don’t forget, some people think pansies, lily of the valley and peonies are also ‘Old Fashioned’….) These shrubs are very hardy, down to USDA zone 3 and up to zone 8 and can be kept in check by pruning them back after the flowering period is over.
Spiraea ‘Renaissance’
This is a slightly more modern cultivar of the Bridal Wreath spiraea – it looks almost the same and has an extremely similar growth habit to the traditional x Vanhouttei cultivar but is noted to be even more disease tolerant. The cascading branches are absolutely smothered in pure white flowers come mid-spring. This cultivar is a little smaller, at approximately 6 feet in height and width. As with all Bridal Wreath Spiraea, you can prune the shrub back right after flowering, and new growth will develop shortly after for flowers the next season. These are extremely hardy, easy-going shrubs that will reward you with armloads of cut stems.
Spiraea ‘Magical Pink Innocence’
This is an interesting and unique new cultivar of spiraea introduced by our friends at Kolster. Strong, straight stems are loaded in clusters of spherical green/pink buds. Cut when the buds at the end of the branch have opened to show the cheery shade of light pink but the rest of the buds remain closed. These stems add a very light, airy and fluffy texture to early summer arrangements. This is a new introduction for the US markets, so by growing these you are really setting yourself apart from other growers – your florists and customers will appreciate the unique new product. The plants themselves only get about 3-4 feet tall and wide and are tolerant of most growing conditions making them very manageable in the field.
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 | Spiraea, cultivar dependent e.g. bridal wreath, bridewort |
| Genus | Spiraea |
| Species | Various (e.g., S. prunifolia, S. × vanhouttei, S. salicifolia) |
| Family | Rosaceae |
| Life Cycle | Hardy Deciduous Shrub |
| 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; stems are generally sturdy for cutting. Some varieties have a natural arch to the stem (Bridal Wreath) and others have straight stems (S. salicifolia Pink Innocence) but none require staking. |
| Hardiness | Hardy across most cultivars - commonly hardy throughout USDA Zones 4 to 8 - tolerant of both cool winters and warm summers if not overly hot/humid. |
| Spacing | 4 to 8 feet apart depending on cultivar; for cutting production space to allow adequate airflow around plants to reduce foliar disease pressure and access for ease of harvest. Closer spacing will develop into a hedge, further spacing will result in shrubs that can be harvested from all sides. Pink Innocence can be more closely spaced - Bridal Wreath should be further spaced. |
| Soil Preference | Thrives in average, medium-moisture, well-drained soils; tolerates clay and some drought once established. |
| Sun Requirement | Can tolerate some light shade, but the best performance will be in direct sun. Shade will negatively affect bloom quantity and quality. |
| Pruning | Prune immediately after flowering to shape and encourage next year’s blooms (most varieties bloom on old wood). If you harvest late in the season after new growth has matured, you will be cutting off next year's flowers. |
| 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 during spring flush when clusters of buds are showing color but before full bloom for best vase performance. |
| Post Harvest Care | Remove lower leaves, recut stems and place into very clean, cool water with floral preservative. Change water regularly and re-cut stems every few days; keep stems chilled in a cooler when possible to maximize vase life. |
| Diseases / Insects | Generally trouble-free with occasional aphid or fungal issues in poor air circulation; prune after bloom to maintain plant health and vigor. |
| Bailey's Notes |
Spiraea ‘Bridal Wreath’ (Spiraea x Vanhouttei) This is the traditional Bridal Wreath spiraea that has been a staple in gardens for decades. It can grow quite large upon maturity – about 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide, with loads of elegantly arching branches for cutting. If branches are cut when the buds are full but not quite open, they will continue to open in the vase. These branches are incredible for adding movement to spring arrangements but can be used in mixed bunches and anywhere else a spray of fresh spring-flowering branches is required. This variety has withstood the test of time, and although some might regard it as ‘old fashioned’, it is timeless in its beauty and usefulness. (Don’t forget, some people think pansies, lily of the valley and peonies are also ‘Old Fashioned’….) These shrubs are very hardy, down to USDA zone 3 and up to zone 8 and can be kept in check by pruning them back after the flowering period is over. Spiraea ‘Renaissance’ This is a slightly more modern cultivar of the Bridal Wreath spiraea – it looks almost the same and has an extremely similar growth habit to the traditional x Vanhouttei cultivar but is noted to be even more disease tolerant. The cascading branches are absolutely smothered in pure white flowers come mid-spring. This cultivar is a little smaller, at approximately 6 feet in height and width. As with all Bridal Wreath Spiraea, you can prune the shrub back right after flowering, and new growth will develop shortly after for flowers the next season. These are extremely hardy, easy-going shrubs that will reward you with armloads of cut stems. Spiraea ‘Magical Pink Innocence’ This is an interesting and unique new cultivar of spiraea introduced by our friends at Kolster. Strong, straight stems are loaded in clusters of spherical buds. Cut when the buds at the end of the branch have opened to show the perfect shade of light pink but the rest of the buds remain closed. These stems add a very unique light, airy and fuffy texture to early summer arrangements. This is a new introduction for the US markets, so by growing these you are really setting yourself apart from other growers – your florists and customers will appreciate the unique new product. The plants themselves only get about 3-4 feet tall and wide and are hardy and easy going making them very manageable in the field. |
| Resources | NA |