Japanese name: ミツバシモツケ（三葉下野） Scientific name:Spiraea trifoliata
[Overview]
A perennial reaching 1 m tall.
It has a rhizome.
The stem is tinged with red.
There are basal leaves and leaves alternate on the stem, which are ternately compound, with serrated leaflet margins.
Two small linear stipules are attached at the base of the leaf.
The leaves turn red in autumn.
Panicles at the stem tips bear 3–9 star-shaped, open 5-petaled flowers, white to pale pink.
The calyx tube is tinged with red.
The fruit is a follicle.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by division.
It prefers sun to partial shade and well-drained, fertile soil.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient unless sunny weather continues in summer and the soil becomes badly dry.
For potted plants, apply slow-release chemical fertilizer on the soil in spring; for plants in the ground, none is particularly necessary.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
