Spirea (Spiraea media 'SMSMBK' DOUBLE PLAY BLUE KAZOO)
Discover Spiraea media 'SMSMBK' DOUBLE PLAY BLUE KAZOO, a low-maintenance Spirea shrub offering blue-green foliage and white spring blooms.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Spiraea media ‘SMSMBK’ DOUBLE PLAY BLUE KAZOO is an outstanding addition to modern landscapes, valued for its compact stature and interesting foliage color shifts throughout the season. This variety of Spirea introduces an unusual blue-green hue that deepens the garden’s cool color palette. As an upright mounded deciduous shrub, this Spirea provides structural interest even outside of its bloom period.
It performs best when given full sun and reliably consistent moisture, making it a resilient and adaptable performer in diverse settings. Gardeners appreciate the low maintenance requirements of this cultivar, which shines as a neat border plant or a structured hedge row.
The tiny white flowers appearing in late spring against the evolving foliage provide excellent texture and attraction. Specifically, Spiraea media ‘SMSMBK’ DOUBLE PLAY BLUE KAZOO matures to a tidy 2–3 feet, perfectly suited for smaller garden spaces or formal plantings where aggressive growth is undesirable.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Rosaceae
- Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 2-3 ft
- Spread: 2-3 ft
- Bloom Time: May to June
- Bloom Description: White flowers
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
For optimal establishment, plant your Spirea media ‘SMSMBK’ DOUBLE PLAY BLUE KAZOO in the spring or fall when temperatures are mild. Ensure the location receives full sun, although light shade is tolerated, to maximize flower production and foliage color. This shrub thrives in average, well-drained soils that maintain medium moisture; avoid perpetually soggy conditions which can encourage root rot.
Once established, water moderately, ensuring the soil remains consistently moist, especially during dry spells. Fertility is not critical, but growth will be best in somewhat fertile soils. Pruning is important and should be timed carefully since this Spirea flowers on old wood. Prune needed only immediately after the May to June blooming period concludes to shape the plant and remove faded flower clusters.
Light shearing can be performed after flowering to encourage a second, smaller flush of blooms if desired. Because this selection is noted in the DOUBLE PLAY Series for improved traits, focusing on situational pruning rather than hard cutting will preserve its natural mounding habit. In summer, mature wood can be propagated using cuttings.
Landscape Uses
The compact size and refined appearance of Spiraea media ‘SMSMBK’ DOUBLE PLAY BLUE KAZOO make it highly versatile for structured landscaping. It is an excellent choice for defining the edges of paths and walkways, functioning beautifully as a low, manicured hedge where taller shrubs might overwhelm the view.
In mass plantings or shrub borders, this Spirea offers reliable, season-long interest. Its blue-green foliage contrasts effectively with plants featuring deep greens, burgundy reds, or vibrant yellows. Consider incorporating it into foundation plantings where its clean profile provides year-round structure without excessive bulk.
This versatile shrub pairs well with perennials that bloom later in the season, allowing the white spring/early summer flowers of the Spirea to stand out. Its adaptability also means it incorporates smoothly into mixed foundation borders flanking entryways or along low retaining walls.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Spiraea media, commonly called spirea, is an upright mounded deciduous shrub known for its showy flowers in terminal clusters. This specific cultivar, ‘SMSMBK’ or BLUE KAZOO, is recognized for its unusual blue-green foliage that emerges tinged with bronze and finishes with attractive red tones in the fall. It typically matures to a compact 2-3’ tall and wide, making it an ideal size for controlled garden designs.
Tolerances
- Deer
- Air Pollution
Potential Problems
The Spirea media ‘SMSMBK’ DOUBLE PLAY BLUE KAZOO exhibits low susceptibility to serious pests and diseases, but as a member of the rose family, it shares some potential vulnerabilities. Watch for common issues like powdery mildew, leaf spot, and occasional infestations of aphids, scale, or leaf rollers.
Management usually involves cultural control; ensure good air circulation by adhering to proper spacing guidelines to minimize fungal issues like powdery mildew. If fire blight appears, promptly prune out affected limbs during dry weather, cutting well back into healthy wood. Avoiding overly wet soils is crucial to prevent root rot, which is a primary concern for stressed roses and related plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Spirea suitable for?
Spiraea media ‘SMSMBK’ DOUBLE PLAY BLUE KAZOO is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 9.
How large does Spirea media ‘SMSMBK’ DOUBLE PLAY BLUE KAZOO grow?
This compact deciduous shrub typically reaches a mature height and spread between 2 and 3 feet tall and wide.
What sun exposure does Spirea need?
For best flowering and foliage display, this Spirea requires full sun exposure; however, it can tolerate light shade.
When does Spirea bloom?
This attractive shrub produces clusters of white flowers primarily between May and June.
Conclusion
The Spiraea media ‘SMSMBK’ DOUBLE PLAY BLUE KAZOO offers gardeners a compact, tough, and uniquely colored shrub that easily meets the demands of modern, low-input landscapes. Its striking blue-green foliage and reliable spring bloom make this Spirea an excellent choice for borders and hedges. Before planting, confirm that your site falls within USDA Zones 4-9 and provides the full sun this beauty requires to thrive.
Companion Planting
When designing beds featuring this Spirea, select plants that benefit from or contrast with its cool coloring. Consider pairing it with Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) grown for dark burgundy foliage, creating a dynamic color clash that highlights both textures. Low-growing Sedums or creeping Thymes work well as groundcovers beneath the shrub, suppressing weeds without competing too heavily for the medium water needs of the Spirea.
For seasonal interest, border the front of the shrub with early bulbs like Narcissus, whose bright yellow blooms provide a stark, cheering contrast to the emerging blue-green foliage of the Spiraea media ‘SMSMBK’ DOUBLE PLAY BLUE KAZOO in early spring. Avoid neighboring plants that demand consistently moist or boggy soil, as this shrub prefers well-draining conditions.
Propagation Tips
Propagating Spiraea media, including the DOUBLE PLAY BLUE KAZOO cultivar, is straightforward for home gardeners using cuttings. The most successful time to take softwood cuttings is during the summer months, generally when new growth is semi-hardened but still flexible.
Select healthy, non-flowering stems about 4 to 6 inches long. Make a clean cut just below a leaf node and remove the lower leaves. Dip the cut end into rooting hormone powder to significantly increase success rates before planting the cutting into a sterile, moist potting medium like peat and perlite mix.
Place the potted cuttings in a warm area with bright, indirect light and cover them loosely with a plastic bag or dome to maintain high humidity while they establish roots. With consistent moisture, roots should develop within a few weeks, allowing you to plant out the new Spirea bush in the following spring.
