Spiraea vanhouttei

Spiraea vanhouttei is also called muscle shrub in Dutch. It is an early-flowering, medium-sized, deciduous shrub with a bushy, spreading form. The leaves are lanceolate, finely serrated and light green in color. From April to May, this muscular shrub blooms profusely with small, white flowers in small umbels on slightly drooping annual wood. This spiraea likes a sunny to slightly shaded position in a well-drained, cool and moist soil. This plant is hardy, tolerates sea wind and air pollution reasonably well and is pest and disease free.