Sorbaria 'Sem'
Sorbaria 'Sem'
Sorbaria 'Sem'
Sorbaria 'Sem'
Sorbaria 'Sem'
Sorbaria 'Sem'
Sorbaria 'Sem'
Sorbaria 'Sem'
Sorbaria 'Sem'
Sorbaria 'Sem'
Sorbaria 'Sem'
Sorbaria 'Sem'
Sorbaria 'Sem'
Sorbaria 'Sem'

Sorbaria 'Sem'

"False spirea"

Sorbaria 'Sem'

1 bare root — £11.90

Spring planting season is currently closed 
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Delivery schedule

Orders placed until 29 February 2026
You can expect your order in February/March 2026

Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2026
You can expect your order in March/April 2026

Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2026
You can expect your order within 10 business days

Available for (pre)ordering again in December
Free delivery on UK orders over £50
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Shipping to the UK

UK orders over £50
Free shipping

UK orders under £50
£4.99

Northern Ireland orders under £50
£5.99

More info

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All deliveries are carbon neutral
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Carbon neutral delivery

In cooperation with Shopify Planet and the Shopify Sustainability Fund, we are proud to be the first plant and flower bulb supplier able to:

— Ship carbon neutral;
— Remove atmospheric carbon;
— Store carbon for 1000+ years;
— Invest in reforestation;
— Invest in soil carbon storage.

How? Every time we ship an order, Shopify Planet automatically calculates our shipping emissions, and ensures high-quality carbon removal to neutralise our shipping footprint. Learn more

Description

Sorbaria 'Sem' is a shrub with a big personality—one that changes its outfit several times through the year. In spring, it bursts into life with fern-like leaves flushed in shades of pink, bronze and fresh lime, as though caught mid-celebration. By summer, the foliage mellows to a soft green, perfectly setting off its upright spires of tiny white flowers that seem to sparkle in the sunlight. Come autumn, Sorbaria 'Sem' closes the season in a blaze of warm reds and coppers, a final encore before winter’s rest. Compact yet full of presence, it’s a plant that rewards any gardener who appreciates subtle drama over loud performance.

Holding an RHS Award of Garden Merit, Sorbaria sorbifolia 'Sem' is a reliable and low-maintenance choice for borders, slopes or naturalistic planting schemes. It thrives in well-drained soil and good light—just enough sunshine to bring out the best in its chameleon-like foliage. With its tidy habit and upright stems, Sorbaria 'Sem' is equally at home softening a mixed border or creating structure in smaller gardens. Hardy and unfussy, Sorbaria 'Sem' offers year-round visual interest with barely a hint of neediness. It’s the sort of shrub that quietly gets on with the job, looking fabulous while doing so—exactly the kind of garden companion every gardener deserves.

Sorbaria is called false spirea because its frothy white flower plumes resemble true spirea, though it belongs to a different plant family.

Key features

  • Perfect for pots

  • Comes back every year

  • Fragrant

  • Attractive to wildlife

  • Thrives well in full sun

  • In peat-free compost

  • Low maintenance

  • RHS Award (AGM)

  • Drought tolerant

  • Fully hardy

  • Rodent resistant

Specs & details

  • Botanical name

    Sorbaria sorbifolia 'Sem'ᴾᴮᴿ

  • Plant size

    1

  • Established height

    1-1.5m

  • Established spread

    1-1.5m

  • Plant spacing

    4 plants per m2

  • Leaf colour

    Red, green

  • Habit

    Clump-forming
    Upright

  • Life cycle

    Perennial

  • Hardiness

    Fully hardy

  • Years to establish

    1-2 years

  • Sunlight

    Full sun
    Partial shade
    Dappled shade

  • Position

    Sheltered
    Exposed

  • Suitable for

    Pots
    Large containers
    Borders
    Gravel gardens
    Wildlife gardens
    Cottage gardens
    Low maintenance gardens

  • Soil acidity

    Any

  • Soil moisture

    Free draining

  • Soil type

    Clay
    Loam
    Multipurpose compost

  • RHS Award (AGM)

    Yes

  • Growing skill

    Easy to grow

  • Scented

    Yes

  • Pollinator-friendly

    Yes

  • Mouse resistant

    Yes

  • Rabbit resistant

    Yes

  • Deer resistant

    Yes

  • Toxicity

    No report

Plant calendar

JanFebMarAprMayJuneJulyAugSepOctNovDec
  • Planting
  • Flowering

Useful information

    • Soak the Sorbaria 'Sem' roots in water for 3-6 hours prior to planting

    • Plant your "False spirea" bare roots into temporary pots with a multipurpose compost within a week of delivery and grow-on in a sheltered spot outdoors

    • Choose a pot which comfortably fits the bare roots. Some have a noticeable crown which should be just below the soil surface with any top growth exposed. Some varieties are a length of root which should be planted lengthways and shallowly (1-2cm deep).

    • Plant out into borders or permanent containers in late spring or early summer once in full growth. Choose a position in sun or shade depending on the variety.

    Read all planting & care instructions

  • Orders placed until 29 February 2025
    You can expect your order in February/March 2025

    Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
    You can expect your order in March/April 2025

    Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
    You can expect your order within 10 business days

Perennials in 1 minute

The beauty of perennial plants doesn’t just lie in their long-lasting flowers and sturdy, resilient nature, but it’s their sheer determination to keep on coming back stronger every year —in year one they’re good, but in future years they’re even better!

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