Spiraea tomentosa L. var. rosea (Raf.) Fernald
Spiraea tomentosa L. var. tomentosa
Spiraea tomentosa L. Steeplebush, hardhack
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 7/20/2021 · Otter Brook, Harpswell, Maine 8/11/2020 · Cliff Trail, Harpswell, Maine |
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Spiraea alba |
You are here Spiraea tomentosa |
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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 |
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Habitats | Damp meadows, pastures, old fields, in sandy, loamy soil | Damp meadows, pastures, old fields, in sandy, loamy soil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Type | Wild | Wild |
Online References:
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The University of Wisconsin's Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium
Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Cofrin Center for Biodiversity
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)
8/2/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts
≈ 8 × 12" (20 × 31 cm)
7/31/2023 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
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.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
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)
7/31/2023 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
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: