Meadowsweet is native to North America. The similar-appearing Spiraea latifolia has recently
been reclassified as a form of this species. See also steeplebush, a pink relative.
Plants: Shrub is 2-6′ (60-182 cm) around, with
multiple stems that are rarely branched. (Browsing by animals sometimes produces more densely
branched bushes.) Stems are brown or yellowish brown.
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).
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.
Fruits: Dry brown follicles opening at the tip when ripened, and
persisting long after flowering.
These are similar:
8/1/2009 · Kennebunk Plains, Kennebunk, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain
8/4/2006 · Mt. Mansfield, Stowe, Vermont
7/10/2021 · Fox East Trail, Bradbury Mountain, Pownal, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)
Shrub is 2-6′ (60-182 cm) around, with multiple stems that are rarely branched. Stems are brown or yellowish brown.
2-4′ (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
USDA Zones: 3-7
USDA Zones: 4-8
Habitats
Damp meadows, pastures, old fields, in sandy, loamy soil
Damp meadows, pastures, old fields, in sandy, loamy soil