Are you suppposed to prune the branches of a Japanese White Spirea in the Spring or only after it flowers?

I don't see any bud growth on my Japanese white spirea, and can't remember if I pruned them last year in the spring or not. Am I just being impatient? Is it all spirea? or just the Japanese white?

Are you suppposed to prune the branches of a Japanese White Spirea in the Spring or only after it flowers?
That depends on the exact spirea.





There are two groups... spring blooming forms and summer bloomers. The spring bloomers usually have white flowers, although some summer flowering forms also have white flowers. The time you should prune is dependent on when the flower buds are formed.





Spring flowering shrubs set their flower buds in the late summer or fall, and bloom in the spring. If you were to prune those in the winter, spring or fall, you would ruin your flowers. If on the other hand the plant blooms in the summer, it will set it's flowers on the current seasons growth. Summer blooming spirea should be cut back while there are no leaves on the shrub (now-ish).





I'm only guessing, but you probably have a spring bloomer, cut those back right after they are done flowering for the season.





Spring Spirea: Spiraea cantoniensis, S. nipponica, S. prunifolia, S. trilobata, S. x 'Vanhouttei'





Summer Spirea: Spiraea x bumalda, S. japonica





I hope that this helps


Good luck-
Reply:Wait till after it flowers and then prune. They don't need to be pruned every year only as required so if you miss a prune it won't be the end of the world. Relax and enjoy.
Reply:be patient. wait until fall, because that's when you're supposed to prune flowering plants and trees. if you wait until fall, it will have had a chance to flower.