Vanhoutte spirea (S. vanhouttei), the classic bridal wreath spirea, is a deciduous broadleaf shrub that can grow 6 to 10 feet high and spread as much as 20 feet wide. The small leaves are blue-green in summer with no fall color. Masses of small, white flower clusters cover the plant in the spring.

Japanese spirea (S. japonica) is an upright shrubby spirea to 4 to 6 feet tall, with sharply toothed, oval, green leaves and flat clusters of pink flowers.

Reeves Spirea (S. cantoniensis) is a double-flowered white bridal wreath. The shrub grows 5 to 6 feet tall. In the Upper South the small green leaves may turn red in fall. Elsewhere, they remain on the plant without changing color.

Baby’s breath spirea, also called thunberg spirea or garland spirea (S. thunbergii) is a showy, graceful shrub, 3 to 5 feet high, with many slender, arching branches. The small, narrow, toothed leaves turn orange in late fall. The tiny white flowers are clustered in the axils along the stems. More than any other spirea, it has a feathery appearance.

Bumalda Spireas (S. x bumalda, a cross between S. albiflora and S. japonica) are all low, shrubby spireas, which bloom in summer to fall. They grow 2 to 3 feet tall and slightly wider and have pink or white flowers depending on the variety.