This spring I did spot a new bush that looked pretty interesting to me based only on the shape of the leaves. I looked at the tag and it said “betulifolia” which looks like a Birch leaf. So I did manage to fina one with a reasonable trunk on it, turns out it had two trunks for which I left them both alone. Spiraea betulifolia ‘Tor Gold’ GLOW GIRL is the scientific name for the plant. “Tor Gold” or “Glow Girl” are supposed to be the same plant. Internet information on the name of the growing tag say the leaves should be yellow to chartruese in color. Mine appears to be just green in color. The plant had three tags on it and all three say “Glow Girl”. I did find another variety which is called “Spiraea betulifolia ‘Tor'”. This variety has nice green colored leavers. So I am going to guess that I have the “Tor” variety not the “Glow Girl” variety as the tag says. I will list both varietes below so you can decide on your own which one you like the best or perhaps you find that is labeled wrong.
Spiraea betulifolia ‘Tor’ by Missouri Botanical Garden
Spiraea betulifolia ‘Tor Gold’ GLOW GIRL by Missouri Botanical Garden
I really like this little Spiraea and the size of the nice darker green leaves. I did prune it back in the fall and it is now very colorful since it leaves have changed over to its fall call. I did take some photos of the new tree on Oct. 22, 2021 just when it was starting to change colors. As of yesterday Oct. 28 the tree is alot more colorful which multiple colors all showing on the same tree. This shrub is going to make a great small sized Bonsai tree assuming I do not kill it. It will be a twin trunk or perhaps a clump form since it does produce suckers for which I cut them all off. There appears some nebari on the tree to. Flowers are reported to be white and appear in the spring. It appears to grow in a uniform manner with all of its branches being about the same height or at least the one I purchased did. Hard to say if it will stay that way. This tree is in a 2 gallon pot and will reside in the garage over the winter until springs.
Gallery 10-22-2021:
