Spiraea tomentosa (steeplebush)

Spiraea tomentosa L.

Spiraea tomentosa L. var. rosea (Raf.) Fernald

Spiraea tomentosa L. var. tomentosa

Steeplebush, hardhack

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	tomentosa	Densely covered with matted wool or short hair

About plant names...

Steeplebush is native to eastern North America and northern and central Europe. It is named for its steeple-like flower clusters. See also meadowsweet, a white or sometime pinkish relative.

Identification: Plants are 24-48" (60-121 cm) tall, composed of groups of unbranched stems topped by conical flowerheads. Stems are orange-colored at first, from dense brown hairs, becoming reddish-brown and woody later. Steeplebush prefers wet or seasonally wet areas and lots of sunlight. Leaves are alternate, dark green, hairless, and textured on top; pale and hairy below. They are 1½-3" (3.8-7.6 cm) × ½-1¼" (1.3-3.2 cm), roughly oval shaped (elliptic to ovate), coarsely toothed, connected by short stems. The flowerheads are the defining features, dense, cone-shaped panicles of pink flowers 2-6" (5-15 cm) long, each less than ¼" (6.3 mm) around, with five petals. Flowers appear from July to September. Fruits are pods that contain narrow seeds about ¹/₃₂" (1 mm) long.

By Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.

Online References:

Spiraea tomentosa at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Spiraea tomentosa at Illinois Wildflowers

Spiraea tomentosa on

Spiraea tomentosa on Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

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

Spiraea tomentosa at Minnesota Wildflowers

8/11/2020 · Cliff Trail, Harpswell, ME
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 20 cm)

8/15/2015 · Screw Auger Falls, Grafton Notch State Park, Newry, ME
≈ 7 × 10" (16 × 25 cm)

8/2/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, MA
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 19 cm)

7/26/2020 · Back River Trail, Eaton Farm Preserve, Wiscasset, ME
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 20 cm)

8/2/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, MA
≈ 8 × 12" (20 × 31 cm)

8/4/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, MA
≈ 16 × 14" (41 × 36 cm)

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

8/4/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, MA
≈ 4 × 6" (11 × 16 cm)

12/30/2011 · Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, MA
≈ 4 × 6" (10 × 15 cm)

7/31/2012 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, MA
≈ 6 × 9" (14 × 22 cm) ID is uncertain

7/31/2012 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, MA
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 19 cm) ID is uncertain

7/24/2010 · Acton Arboretum, Acton, MA
≈ 9 × 12" (23 × 29 cm)

8/3/2012 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, MA
≈ 4½ × 7" (11 × 17 cm)

Seeds will darken to red-brown. · 8/25/2017 · Pack Monadnock, near summit, Peterborough, NH
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm)

4/14/2013 · Bemis Rd, Pepperell, MA
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm)

8/12/2009 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, MA
≈ 6 × 8" (14 × 19 cm) ID is uncertain

Range: Zones 4-8:

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