Lace Shrub is a perennial, deciduous shrub with a dense and wide-spreading crown maturing to a 6-foot by 9-foot plant. It is native to Asia and, in its native habitat, is often found in thickets in low mountains all over Japan or on mountain slopes, or by streams at elevations of 1600 to 3200 feet in southern China. The plant flowers in June and the seeds ripen from August to September. The foliage also provides attractive fall colors. It can be propagated from the seeds, but will also send out suckers from the base of the plant and the arching stems will form roots if they contact the soil. Lace Shrub tolerates a variety of soils (sandy, loam, and clay), but prefers organically rich, well-drained, moist soil. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade, but full sun will encourage blooms. The plant should be sited where it will be protected from harsh winds. It is also easy to transplant to a pot. The cultivar, Crispa, is probably the most common of the species in commerce. It is noted for its tough constitution and utility. It differs from the species with its dissected, crinkly foliage and low-spreading groundcover habit. The thin, dense stems spread over the ground in a tangle to only 3 feet tall and much wider. The plant becomes slightly mounded in the middle, but prostrate at the extremities. It may be used as a groundcover, foundation shrub or as a draped shrub over a wall or raised bed. Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No significant diseases or other problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.