Culture
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Prune immediately after flowering. Thin out old stems as needed. Remove suckers to prevent unwanted colonial spread. May not be reliably winter hardy in the northern parts of USDA Zone 6 where this shrub should be sited in sheltered locations.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Neillia ribesioides is an arching, rounded, deciduous shrub that typically grows 3-6’ tall and as wide. It is native to open wooded areas in central China. It is a member of the rose family, resembling Spiraea. Alternate, lobed, sharply-toothed, ovate to ovate-oblong, dark green leaves (2-4” long) turn yellow in fall. Tiny, tubular, white to pink flowers (calyx tube to 1/3") in 2" cernous racemes (10-15 flowers per raceme) bloom in late spring to early summer. Synonymous with and formerly known as Neillia sinensis var. ribesioides.
Genus name honors Patrick Neill (1776-1851), printer and Scottish horticulturist and naturalist, of Edinburgh, Secretary of the Caledonian Horticultural Society.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Shrub borders. Woodland margins and open woodland areas.