Spiraea tomentosa (Steeplebush)

Spiraea tomentosa L.

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. Steeplebush prefers wet or seasonally wet areas and lots of sunlight. See also meadowsweet, a white or sometime pinkish relative.

Plants: 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.

Leaves: 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.

Flowers: 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: Pods that contain narrow seeds about ¹/₃₂" (1 mm) long.

By Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.

These are similar:

8/30/2021 · Woodward Point Preserve, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 6 × 4" (16 × 10 cm)

7/20/2021 · Otter Brook, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 7 × 8" (16 × 20 cm)

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

	*Spiraea alba*	You are here Spiraea tomentosa
Common Name	meadowsweet	steeplebush
Plant	Shrub is 24-72" (60-182 cm) around, with multiple stems that are rarely branched. Stems are brown or yellowish brown.	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.
Flowers	Large, densely flowered panicles are 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.	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.
Leaves	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).	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.
Fruit	Dry brown follicles opening at the tip when ripened, and persisting long after flowering.	Pods that contain narrow seeds about ¹/₃₂" (1 mm) long.
Range/ Zones	USDA Zones: 3-7	USDA Zones: 4-8
Habitats	Damp meadows, pastures, old fields, in sandy, loamy soil	Damp meadows, pastures, old fields, in sandy, loamy soil
Type	Wild	Wild

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

8/8/2015 · Mt. Wachusett
≈ 6 × 4½" (14 × 12 cm)

9/10/2021 · Crystal Spring Farm, Blueberry Loop, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9 cm)

8/15/2015 · Screw Auger Falls, Grafton Notch State Park, Newry, Maine
≈ 7 × 9" (16 × 23 cm)

8/2/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 7" (13 × 17 cm)

7/26/2020 · Back River Trail, Eaton Farm Preserve, Wiscasset, Maine
≈ 5 × 7" (13 × 18 cm)

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

8/30/2021 · Woodward Point Preserve, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm)

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

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

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

Spiraea tomentosa L. var. tomentosa

Spiraea tomentosa description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 13 Sep 2021.

12/30/2011 · Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts
≈ 4 × 6" (10 × 14 cm)

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

7/31/2012 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 7" (13 × 17 cm) ID is uncertain

7/24/2010 · Acton Arboretum, Acton, Massachusetts
≈ 8 × 11" (20 × 27 cm)

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

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

4/6/2021 · Otter Brook Trail, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 3 × 5" (7.9 × 13 cm)

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

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

Range: Zones 4-8:

About this map...