Spiraea tomentosa L. var. tomentosa
Spiraea tomentosa L.
Steeplebush, hardhack
Steeplebush is native to eastern North America and northern and central Europe. It is named for its steeple-like flower clusters. See also meadowsweet, a white or sometime pinkish relative.
Plants: 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.
Leaves: Alternate, dark green, hairless, and textured on top; pale and hairy below. They are 1½–3 ⨉ ½–1¼″ (3.8–7.6 ⨉ 1.3–3.2 cm), roughly oval shaped (elliptic to ovate), coarsely toothed, connected by short stems.
Flowers: 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.
Fruits: Pods that contain narrow seeds about 1/32″ (1 mm) long.
Habitats: Damp meadows, pastures, old fields, in sandy, loamy soil.
By Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database. 
 |
Similar species. |
Online References:
Spiraea tomentosa L. var. rosea (Raf.) Fernald
Spiraea tomentosa L. var. tomentosa
Spiraea tomentosa L. var. tomentosa
8/30/2021 · Woodward Point Preserve, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm) 
7/20/2021 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 7 × 8″ (16 × 20 cm) 
8/11/2020 · Cliff Trail, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm) 
8/8/2015 · Mt. Wachusett · ≈ 6 × 4½″ (14 × 12 cm) 
9/10/2021 · Crystal Spring Farm, Blueberry Loop, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9 cm) 
8/15/2015 · Screw Auger Falls, Grafton Notch State Park, Newry, Maine · ≈ 7 × 9″ (16 × 23 cm) 
8/2/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 7″ (13 × 17 cm) 
7/26/2020 · Eaton Farm Preserve, Wiscasset, Maine · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm) 
8/2/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm) 
7/31/2023 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine 
8/30/2021 · Woodward Point Preserve, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) 
8/4/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 1 × 1′ (41 × 36 cm) 
8/4/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (11 × 16 cm) 
12/30/2011 · Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 14 cm) 
7/31/2012 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 9″ (14 × 22 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
7/31/2012 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 7″ (13 × 17 cm) ID is uncertain 
7/24/2010 · Acton Arboretum, Acton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 11″ (20 × 27 cm) 
7/31/2023 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine 
8/3/2012 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm) 
Seeds will darken to red-brown. · 8/25/2017 · Pack Monadnock, near summit, Peterborough, New Hampshire · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm) 
4/6/2021 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 3 × 5″ (7.9 × 13 cm) 
4/14/2013 · Bemis Rd, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) 
8/12/2009 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 8″ (14 × 19 cm) ID is uncertain 
9/7/2025 · Andover, Maine · By Heather A. Kent 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Rosidae | Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more |
| Order | Rosales | Rose family and eight others |
| Family | Rosaceae | Includes apples, apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, almonds, roses, meadowsweets, photinias, firethorns, rowans, and hawthorns; many others |
| Genus | Spiraea | From Greek speiraira, “a plant used for wreaths or garlands,” in turn from speira, “spiral or twisted” |
| Species | tomentosa | Densely covered with matted wool or short hair |
Spiraea tomentosa description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.