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Native Plant Database

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Spiraea douglasii (Hardhack spiraea)
Loughmiller, Campbell and Lynn

Spiraea douglasii Hook.

Hardhack spiraea, Rose spirea, Western spiraea

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

USDA Symbol: spdo

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A many-stemmed, fast-growing, 4-10 ft. shrub. Oblong leaves are shiny green on top and white-woolly beneath. Tiny, rose-colored, five-petaled flowers occur in dense, 4-6 in. long panicles at the tips of the stems. The panicles appear fuzzy because of the flowers’ prominent, protruding stamens.

Hardhack is a member of the family Rosaceae, which includes about 2000 species of trees, shrubs, and herbs worldwide, including serviceberries (Amelanchier), hawthorns (Crataegus), apples (Malus), plums and cherries (Prunus), and mountain-ashes (Sorbus).

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf: Dark Green
Fruit:
Size Class: 6-12 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , CO , ID , MO , MT , OR , TN , WA
Native Distribution: B.C. to n.w. MT, s. to n. CA
Native Habitat: Low, damp places below 6000 ft.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Moist soils.
Conditions Comments: Not Available

Benefit

Warning: Sometimes used medicinally, this plant can be poisonous in high quantities. Sensitivity to a toxin varies with a person’s age, weight, physical condition, and individual susceptibility. Children are most vulnerable because of their curiosity and small size. Toxicity can vary in a plant according to season, the plant’s different parts, and its stage of growth; and plants can absorb toxic substances, such as herbicides, pesticides, and pollutants from the water, air, and soil.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Propagate by seed or softwood cuttings. Offshoots from the creeping underground stems can be readily established.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Spiraea douglasii in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Spiraea douglasii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Spiraea douglasii

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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