pls identify this leafless bush

[Anisa]

The amount of knowledge of this forum members is amazing. Time after time i see some weird plants being identified and weird cases solved. Well now i need a help with mine.
I have these bushes growing along a wall and I am planing to dig them out, list them on craigslist for free, and replace with boxwood, but the thing is that i dont know their name. As you see from pic - they barely have any leaves right now. They usually get leaves later in summer and the leaves get dark red after frosts and stay way into fall. It also flowers in late summer with a cluster of small purple/lilac blossoms. I dont know much else besides that apparently they are hardy in zone 6b (Kansas, Olathe, where I live)
Could you please identify them for me, so I can give them away... or perhaps someone that lives close wants them?? I also have 2 bushes of holly that need to find a good home.
Thanks!

[Tindomul]

There is not much to work on there. Hopefully someone can recognize it.
What colour are the branches? Do you remember what the leaves look like?

[Anisa]

The bush has few leaf clusters, which is odd because the branches dont appear to be dead. So why wouldn't there be more leaves? Perhaps it needs trimming. Anyway here are pictures of the leaves -

[Alyons]

looks like Spirea to me... but it's a little difficult to be completely sure.

[PaphMadMan]

Yeah, that's a Spirea, and from your description of the flowers I would guess one of the many Spirea x bumalda and related types, just because they are more common than weeds in most suburban landscapes in 2/3 of the country.

[Anisa]

I looked up Spirea on the internet and yes, it is a match! My bushes never did look as good as those in pictures on the internet. If they did they might have stayed Anyway, you did it again, awesome orchidboard members!

Spirea x bumaldas and Holies are going to be on Craigslist tomorrow and hopefully someone wants them.

Thank you all for your help!

[RosieC]

Well my first thought on seeing the leaf picture is that it looks like something I have lots of in my garden but have no clue what it is.

On reading down further and looking up Spirea that is exactly what I have. Shame I didn't have a name, but glad other did.

We bought a brand new house (they were still building it when we bought it) and the building company planted a large area of these at the front. They grow pretty well in our conditions.

[RJSquirrel]