'Tardiva' is a vigorous, upright, rapidly growing, somewhat coarsely textured, deciduous shrub which typically grows 8 - 12 ft tall. Features upright, pyramidal, sharply pointed, terminal panicles (to 8" long) of mostly sterile flowers. The showy, white, sterile flowers are somewhat loosely packed in the panicles and slowly turn purplish pink with age. The much smaller, fluffy, fertile flowers are partially visible beneath the showier, sterile ones. Larger flower panicles can be obtained by thinning the plants to 5-10 primary shoots. In full bloom, the weight of the flower panicles will typically cause the branches to arch downward. Blooms from late summer well into September. Dark green, leaves (to 6" long) with yellow to purple-tinged fall color.
Height: 8-12'
Spread: 7-10'
Shape: Upright spreading
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Foliage: Medium green
Fall Foliage: Insignificant
Zone: 3-8