Habitat

• result of cross between S. trilobata and S. cantoniensis
• zone 3

Habit and Form

• a deciduous, vase-shaped shrub
• 6' to 8' tall with a spread of up to 12'
• branches arch to ground, making an open airy mounded habit
• fast growth rate
• fine texture

Summer Foliage

• alternate leaf arrangement
• simple small leaves
• 0.75" to 1.5" long
• leaves have a pointed tip
• 3 to 5 lobes
• irregular teeth cover margin
• dark blue-green color

Autumn Foliage

• some red coloring
• not reliable

Flowers

• white flowers
• blooms April to May
• flowers form on branch tips
• flowers are borne in umbels with numerous individual flowers
• umbels are 1" to 2" in diameter
• very showy

Fruit

• dry, brown follicles
• hold through winter
• not ornamentally significant

Bark

• thin brown stems
• glabrous
• predominately branches from base
• branches at 90 degree angles
• buds held on stems at 90 degree angles
• buds are divergent

Culture

• full sun to light shade
• prefers well-drained soil
• transplant from container for best results
• soil tolerant
• extremely durable shrub

Landscape Use

• for showy flowers
• group or mass plantings
• for border
• for foundation plant
• for texture

Liabilities

• suckers
• fireblight
• leaf spot
• powdery mildew

ID Features

• white flowers are stem tips
• brown follicles that is held through winter
• thin brown stems
• buds held at 90 degree angle from stems
• branching pattern at 90 degrees
• vase-shaped
• lobed leaves with serrated margins
• alternate leaf arrangement

Propagation

• by softwood cuttings
• by seed

Cultivars/Varieties

'Pink Ice' - Sometimes offered by specialty nurseries, this novelty plant offers young foliage that is splashed with pink and white. It may revert, plus the leaves usually mature to a uniform green by summer. The plant can reach 5' tall in time.

'Renaissance' - Very similar to the type species, this selection reportedly exhibits greater resistance to leaf ailments.

'Snow White' - This may be the best form, as it grows compactly to 5' and appears less prone to foliar disease. The dead blooms are self-cleaning and the foliage is larger and healthy green.