Native Plants

Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Enter a Plant Name:
Or you can choose a plant family:

Beckers, Eric

Spiraea splendens

Spiraea splendens Baumann ex K. Koch

Rose Meadowsweet, Subalpine Spiraea

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: SPSP2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Subalpine Spiraea is a low-statured, deciduous shrub, 2-3 ft. tall, with shiny, bright green leaves; reddish-purple bark; and flat-topped clusters of tiny pink to purplish flowers.

The Subalpine Spiraea is a member of the rose family (family Rosaceae) which includes about 2000 species of trees, shrubs, and herbs worldwide.

From the Image Gallery

3 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Fruit Type: Aggregate , Follicle
Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall.
Fruit: Aggregated follicles.

Bloom Information

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

Distribution

USA: CA , ID , MT , NV , OR , WA , WY
Canada: AB
Native Distribution: Mountains from British Columbia to nw. and Sierran California, east to Montana.
Native Habitat: Wet, open meadows; wooded or open, rocky slopes; stream banks; 2000-11,000 ft elevation.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

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

Find Seed or Plants

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

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Native shade plants around fountain in California
March 18, 2009
Hi, we just put a fountain in our front yard. It is in a mostly shady area. I need to know what plants would go best around the fountain and survive in the shade.
view the full question and answer

Alternatives to non-native heather (Calluna vulgaris)
April 27, 2007
I live in Vernon, BC, Canada. I plan to put a heather plant in my garden, but my space is limited. I know that it will grow approx. 2 ft. high and that it likes well drained and acidic soil, but how...
view the full question and answer

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-20
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back