Overview
Spiraea is a bushy, suckering shrubs in the genus Spiraea, part of the Rosaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Spiraea grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H6. Suggested uses include mixed borders, shrub borders, cottage gardens, informal gardens, wildlife gardens and flower borders and beds. It is native to Afghanistan, Alabama, Alaska, Alberta, Altay, Amur, Arkansas, Assam, Austria, Belarus, British Columbia, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, California, Central European Russia, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Chita, Colorado, Connecticut, Czechia-Slovakia, Delaware, East European Russia, East Himalaya, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Inner Mongolia, Iowa, Iran, Irkutsk, Italy, Japan, Kamchatka, Kansas, Kazakhstan, Kentucky, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Krym, Kuril Is., Louisiana, Magadan, Maine, Manchuria, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Mongolia, Montana, Myanmar, Nepal, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Newfoundland, North Carolina, North Caucasus, North Dakota, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, NW. Balkan Pen., Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Pennsylvania, Poland, Portugal, Primorye, Prince Edward I., Qinghai, Québec, Rhode I., Romania, Sakhalin, Saskatchewan, South Carolina, South Dakota, South European Russia, Spain, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Tennessee, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Turkmenistan, Tuva, Türkiye, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vermont, Vietnam, Virginia, Washington, West Himalaya, West Siberia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Xinjiang, Yakutiya and Yukon.
About
Spiraea is a deciduous shrub in the Rosaceae that produces dense clusters of flowers in late spring and early summer, flowering from May to July. Many forms spread by suckers and develop a multi-stemmed outline. It tolerates a wide range of soils and light levels, from full sun to partial shade. Plants are rated very hardy (H6) for UK conditions.
About the genus
Spiraea, sometimes spelled spirea in common names, and commonly known as meadowsweets or steeplebushes, is a genus of about 80 to 100 species of shrubs in the family Rosaceae. They are native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere, with the greatest diversity in eastern Asia.
Growing conditions
Best soil and position for Spiraea
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
Spiraea size, habit and characteristics
- Plant type
- Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy, Suckering
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Suggested uses
- Mixed borders, Shrub borders, Cottage gardens, Informal gardens, Wildlife gardens, Flower borders and beds
- Native to
- Afghanistan, Alabama, Alaska, Alberta, Altay, Amur, Arkansas, Assam, Austria, Belarus, British Columbia, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, California, Central European Russia, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Chita, Colorado, Connecticut, Czechia-Slovakia, Delaware, East European Russia, East Himalaya, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Inner Mongolia, Iowa, Iran, Irkutsk, Italy, Japan, Kamchatka, Kansas, Kazakhstan, Kentucky, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Krym, Kuril Is., Louisiana, Magadan, Maine, Manchuria, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Mongolia, Montana, Myanmar, Nepal, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Newfoundland, North Carolina, North Caucasus, North Dakota, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, NW. Balkan Pen., Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Pennsylvania, Poland, Portugal, Primorye, Prince Edward I., Qinghai, Québec, Rhode I., Romania, Sakhalin, Saskatchewan, South Carolina, South Dakota, South European Russia, Spain, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Tennessee, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Turkmenistan, Tuva, Türkiye, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vermont, Vietnam, Virginia, Washington, West Himalaya, West Siberia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Xinjiang, Yakutiya, Yukon
Care notes
Pruning and caring for Spiraea
- Propagation
- Softwood cuttings, Semi-ripe cuttings, Hardwood cuttings, Seed
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to plant Spiraea?
Spiraea prefers full sun and partial shade. It suits exposed and sheltered positions.
What soil does Spiraea need?
Spiraea is adaptable and grows happily in most soil types, including chalk, clay, loam and sand. It is happy in soil of any pH. Aim for soil that stays moist but well-drained to well-drained.
Is Spiraea hardy in the UK?
Spiraea has an RHS hardiness rating of H6, meaning it is very hardy, tolerating -20 to -15°C across most of the UK.
How do I propagate Spiraea?
Softwood cuttings, Semi-ripe cuttings, Hardwood cuttings, Seed.
More in the Spiraea genus
- Spiraea 'County Park'
- Spiraea 'Golden Carpet'
- Spiraea Snow Storm ('Darsnorm'PBR)
- Spiraea beauverdiana
- Spiraea betulifolia
- Spiraea chamaedryfolia var. pilosa
- Spiraea corymbosaAlleghany meadowsweet
- Spiraea densiflora subsp. densiflora
