It is a deciduous member of the rose family that grows to about 30 inches tall and wide. Leaves are willow-like and, in this selection, often variegated. Anthony Waterer Spirea is extremely variable in its variegation pattern. Often times, entire branches will be produced with all leaves white and completely lacking in chlorophyll. In other leaves the leaf will be divided down the middle with half variegated and half normal.
Most leaves though are completely normal and show no variegation.
The species from which this selection were introduced from Japan into England about 1865. In the 1880s the variegated form was discovered and named after the nurseryman at the Knapp Hill Nursery where it was first propagated. This plant, and its more dwarf cousin, Spiraea japonica, have produced yellow-leafed forms which have become popular plants in the nursery trade. Spireas, such as Anthony Waterer make excellent plants for adding to the front of mixed shrub borders that have a lot of evergreen plants. The twiggy deciduous form of the plant softens the stark green leaves of the evergreens in winter.