Spiraea alba (Meadowsweet)

Spiraea alba Du Roi

Meadowsweet, white meadowsweet

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Rosales	Rose family and eight others
Family	Rosaceae	Includes apples, apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, almonds, roses, meadowsweets, photinias, firethorns, rowans, and hawthorns; many others
Genus	Spiraea	From Greek speiraira, “a plant used for wreaths or garlands,” in turn from speira, “spiral or twisted”
Species	alba	“White”

About plant names...

Meadowsweet is native to North America. The similar-appearing Spiraea latifolia has recently been reclassified as a form of this species. See also steeplebush, a pink relative.

Identification: This shrub is 24-72" (60-182 cm) around, with multiple stems that are rarely branched. (Browsing by animals sometimes produced more densely branched bushes.) Stems are brown or yellowish brown. Leaves are alternate, green and textured above, paler in color beneath, narrowly ovate, and sharply toothed. They have pinnate veins and short stems, and are 1¾-2½" (5-7 cm) × ⅜-¾" (1-2 cm). The most notable feature is the large, densely flowered flowerheads: panicles 2-6" (5-15 cm) long, composed of individual flowers less than ¼" (6.3 mm) around. Each flower is white or pale pink, with five petals and a large number of stamens. They flower from June to September. Fruits are pod-like, persisting long after flowering.

Online References:

Spiraea alba at Illinois Wildflowers

Spiraea alba on

Spiraea alba on the Ecology of Commanster

Spiraea alba at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Cofrin Center for Biodiversity

Spiraea alba at the University of Michigan Herbarium

Spiraea alba at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Spiraea alba on Fall Wildflowers of New England

8/1/2009 · Kennebunk Plains, Kennebunk, Maine
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

8/4/2006 · Mt. Mansfield, Stowe, Vermont

7/9/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 8 × 12" (20 × 31 cm)

7/16/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 13 × 17" (32 × 42 cm) ID is uncertain

7/9/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm)

7/22/2012 · Wapack Trail, Pack Monadnock, Peterborough, New Hampshire
≈ 6 × 9" (15 × 23 cm)

Spiraea alba description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

7/22/2012 · Wapack Trail, Pack Monadnock, Peterborough, New Hampshire
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 19 cm)

8/1/2009 · Kennebunk Plains, Kennebunk, Maine
≈ 4 × 3" (10 × 8.5 cm) ID is uncertain

7/9/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 7 × 11" (18 × 27 cm)

8/4/2006 · Mt. Mansfield, Stowe, Vermont

7/9/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 7.9 cm)

7/9/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 7 × 11" (18 × 27 cm)

7/9/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 9" (14 × 22 cm)

7/9/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 9" (14 × 22 cm)

Range: Zones 3-7:

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