The name Spiraea is derived from the Greek speira, meaning twisting which refers to the fruits that appear as if they are twisted. First described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, Spiraea salicifolia or Willowleaf Meadowsweet is a deciduous shrub in the rose family. It's commonly found in wet boggy areas, stream beds, river valleys or woodlands. It can adapt to most soil conditions, however prefers to be located in full sunlight in moist and loamy soil. It is native to Asia and parts of Europe. In the US, it can be found in the lower 48 states, but it is more likely to be observed naturalized in Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Michigan, North Carolina, Virginia and Vermont. Spreading by suckers, it can form a dense thicket. These thickets can cause individual plants to become less hardy. Dividing on a regular basis will help keep the plants at their best. Its dense habitat is used for stabilization projects along rivers and lakes. When in bloom, the rose-tinted white flowers produced on panicles create a dense, showy picture. Its vitamin C rich young leaves can be cooked and eaten. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious disease or insect issues. Aphids and cicada caterpillar are occasional visitors. Fungi may be an issue in locations with poor ventilation. Soil containing lime can decrease the level of chlorophyll, causing the leaves to yellow. More information on Spiraea .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Multi-stemmed; Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The double toothed, pointed leaves have no hairs.
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Dense, 4 to 5" panicles bloom all summer and flowers are pollinated by insects.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit type
Follicle
Fruit detail
The fruits dry and open on one side to release its winged seeds.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Gray/Silver
Stem detail
Typically, does not have branches. The stems can range from yellow-brown to yellow-gray.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe and Japan
Distribution
GA, KY, MI, MS, NC, VA, VT
Wildlife value
Flowers support pollinating insects. Bees are attracted to the flowers.
Attracts
Bees
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Buffer; Colorful; Screening
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Fruit type
Follicle
Edibility
The leaves are edible.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Ornamental, Soil stabilization
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Meadow; Naturalized Area; Patio; Pond; Small Space; Woodland
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Barrier; Border; Foundation Planting; Hedge; Mass Planting; Screen/Privacy; Specimen