LOL!! Nothing is truly deerproof but spiraeas are listed as being somewhat deer resistant :-) And the nice thing about spiraeas is that whatever occasional "pruning" the deer might do will result in another flush of new growth. I grow Spiraea 'Magic Carpet', which may be what you were seeing - wonderful, coppery orange new growth - but I can't tolerate the Pepto Bismal pink flowers and prune them off as soon as buds appear. The shrub will reflush with bright new growth in a matter of a couple of days.

I have the a bronze colored spirea also and the deer pass it by but that may be because I have so many other things they love. jww

gardengal, how tall are your 'Magic Carpets'? Mine don't know "Carpet" is part of their name, they are 3' tall and 4' wide. I was replacing 'Goldflame' with them as they were too big and these are almost the same size although the leaves are much smaller. I thought they were supposed to be more like 18" x 30". Cutting them back hard, like a Caryopteris didn't change their growth...

Mine are pretty compact at about 2'x 2' but only because I prune them several times a year (HATE those pink flowers!!). 2-3' tall and as wide, perhaps wider, is not uncommon. I don't think the "carpet" portion of their name refers to habit, but rather to the multicolored nature of a magic carpet. At least that's my assumption :-)

These might be too short for my friend's garden -- is there another pretty spirea that is a little taller? I think she'd like yours buyorsell! This mass planting I saw was spectacular.

'Goldflame' is bigger with the same great foliage color.

I don't mind the pink flowers ;) on either one.