Spiraea tomentosa ~ Steeplebush 15-20ft-height IMAGES: Leonora (Ellie) Enking

IMAGES:  Leonora (Ellie) Enking

Carolina Midnight Fringe Flower is a dense upright evergreen shrub with deep almost-black plum foliage that keeps color year round and heavy blooms of deep fuchsia pink fringe-like flowers in late winter through spring

Watch for crown rot

The crunchy foliage matures in 30-40 day and has a mild peppery taste

Spiraea tomentosa ~ Steeplebush 15-20ft-height IMAGES: Leonora (Ellie) EnkingSteeplebrush is a low mounding native deciduous shrub with oval sharp toothed foliage that has dense hairy undersides and no fall color. Steeple shaped terminal clusters of bright pink to rose purple flowers bloom midsummer into early fall. Removing spent flower clusters can encourage an additional bloom. Grows best in full sun and medium to wet well drained acidic soils. Type: Shrub Origins: East N. America; GA Native Height: 2' 4' Spread: 3 5'