Spiraea japonica ‘Golden Princess’ – A Compact Shrub with Striking Golden Foliage

Spiraea japonica ‘Golden Princess’ is a compact, colourful deciduous shrub that brings brightness and charm to gardens throughout the growing season. Its fresh golden-yellow foliage creates a cheerful backdrop in spring and summer, while clusters of small pink flowers appear in midsummer, attracting bees and butterflies. In autumn, the leaves often take on warm orange and red tones, extending its seasonal appeal.

This dwarf variety has a naturally rounded, bushy shape, making it a perfect choice for borders, low hedges, containers, and mixed plantings. Easy to grow, highly adaptable, and low-maintenance, ‘Golden Princess’ is an ideal shrub for adding long-lasting colour and structure to gardens large and small.

General Information

Spiraea japonica is native to East Asia and has been bred into many colourful varieties prized for their foliage and flowers. The ‘Golden Princess’ cultivar is a smaller-growing selection, loved for its compact size and bright leaves.

• Growth habit: Compact, bushy, rounded shrub

• Height & spread: Typically 60–80cm tall and wide, ideal for smaller spaces

• Foliage: Bright golden-yellow in spring and summer, turning orange-red in autumn

• Flowers: Clusters of small, rosy-pink blooms in midsummer, attractive to pollinators

• Position: Best in full sun for strongest colour, but tolerates light shade

• Hardiness: Fully hardy, tolerates frost and cold winters well

• Soil: Grows in most well-drained soils; not fussy about fertility

• Uses: Excellent for borders, edging, containers, and wildlife-friendly plantings

The combination of bright foliage and cheerful flowers ensures ‘Golden Princess’ brings colour and life to gardens from spring to autumn.

Care Guide

Spiraea japonica ‘Golden Princess’ is an easy-care shrub that thrives with minimal attention, making it perfect for busy or beginner gardeners.

Planting

• Plant in full sun for the brightest leaf colour.

• Choose well-drained soil; enrich with compost for best results.

• Space plants about 50–60cm apart when using in groups or borders.

• Water well after planting and mulch around the base to conserve moisture.

Watering & Feeding

• Water regularly during the first year to establish roots.

• Once established, it is drought-tolerant and only needs watering in very dry spells.

• Feed in early spring with a general-purpose fertiliser to boost foliage and flowering.

Pruning & Maintenance

• Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.

• Cut back old stems hard to encourage fresh, colourful foliage and abundant flowers.

• Deadhead faded flowers in summer to extend the flowering season.

• Light trimming through the growing season helps keep its rounded shape.

Protection

• Fully hardy, requiring no winter protection.

• Generally resistant to pests and diseases, making it very reliable.

Why Choose Spiraea ‘Golden Princess’?

This cheerful shrub is a real gem for adding colour, structure, and wildlife value to the garden. Its long season of interest, compact size, and easy-going nature make it an ideal choice for gardens of all styles.

• Brilliant foliage colour: Golden leaves in summer, fiery tones in autumn

• Summer flowers: Rosy-pink blooms attract bees and butterflies

• Compact habit: Perfect for borders, edging, or pots

• Low-maintenance: Hardy and easy to care for

• Seasonal interest: Colourful from spring through late autumn

Spiraea japonica ‘Golden Princess’ is a superb choice for gardeners wanting a reliable, compact shrub that combines bright foliage, pretty flowers, and an easy-care nature. Whether used in borders, containers, or mixed plantings, it will light up the garden from spring to autumn.

• Size
  3 lt

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

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