Spiraea alba
American meadowsweet
Small, upright thicket-forming shrub to about 1.2m tall, with narrow, sharply-serrated mid-green leaves on unbranched yellow-brown stems, and downy, terminal panicles of tiny white flowers produced in late summer
Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
1–1.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Poorly–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | White | Green | ||
| Autumn | Gold | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Suckering
- Genus
Spiraea are deciduous shrubs, sometimes suckering, with simple leaves and short racemes, panicles or corymbs of small, 5-petalled white or pink flowers in spring or summer
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- N America
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in most moist soils, including wet and boggy soils, tolerant of all but the most extreme conditions, in full sun or light shade
Propagation
Propagate suckering species such as S. alba by division in late summer or early spring. Propagate by softwood or semi-ripe cuttings in spring to late summer or hardwood cuttings in winter
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Wildlife gardens
- Ground cover
- Hedging and screens
Pruning
Pruning group 6 for spiraea flowering on current years stems, deadhead after flowering. Keep really neat and compact by cutting all stems back to within 15cm of ground level after flowering
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free but may be susceptible to honey fungus
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.