Steeplebush – Artofit

Image gallery for: Steeplebush

Advertisement
Spiraea tomentosa (Steeplebush)

bee happy
SHRUB: Spiraea tomentosa (Steeplebush)

Backyard Dreams!
Steeplebush or Hardhack

In the Garden
Steeplebush or Hardhack

In the Prairie
Advertisement
Buy Steeplebush for Sale Online

Mom - house & garden
Spiraea tomentosa (Steeplebush)

Garden planning
Steeplebush

Plants For Rain Gardens
Wildflowers of Western Pennsylvania - STEEPLEBUSH: (Spiraea tomentosa). This native plant is a member of the Rose Family. It has a branched woody stem and may grow into clumps of small shrubs, 2-4 feet tall. It is considered one of the most beautiful of our flowering shrubs. The red or dark pink flowers are in a fuzzy steeple-shaped cluster at the terminus of the branches. The clusters are 4-8 inches long. Each individual bloom has 5 petals and 5 sepals and is only 1/16 to 1/4 inch in diameter. Stamens and pistils are numerous, giving the flower a feathery appearance. There is no noticeable scent. The fruit is a pod that opens on one side to release the seeds. The cluster blooms from the top downwards. The oval, alternate, toothed leaves have a wooly, brownish underside. When the petals fall off, the brownish flower spike may be dried and used in dried flower arrangements. It will last for years in these displays. The central stem is initially covered with wooly brown hairs, but as they mature they become smooth and woody. The Steeplebush can be found in moist acidic meadows and pastures, from Minnesota, Quebec, Nova Scotia southwards. In Western Pennsylvania it has been documented in more of the northern counties than in the south. It blooms from July to September. It produces pollen but little nectar. This attracts bees, flies and beetles as pollinators. It seems to grow best in moist to wet soil and in full sunlight. Other common names for this species are Hardhack or Red Spirea. The first of these names refers to the toughness of the stems. A similar species called Meadowsweet (Spirea salicifolia) or White Spirea has white or light pink flowers and lacks the furry brown hairs on the underside of the leaves. I took this photograph at Jennings Preston Park in Butler County, PA on July 21, 2018

Flowers in my Yard
Late July Flowers

Cool Plants and Flowers
Wildflowers of Western Pennsylvania - STEEPLEBUSH: (Spiraea tomentosa). This native plant is a member of the Rose Family. It has a branched woody stem and may grow into clumps of small shrubs, 2-4 feet tall. It is considered one of the most beautiful of our flowering shrubs. The red or dark pink flowers are in a fuzzy steeple-shaped cluster at the terminus of the branches. The clusters are 4-8 inches long. Each individual bloom has 5 petals and 5 sepals and is only 1/16 to 1/4 inch in diameter. Stamens and pistils are numerous, giving the flower a feathery appearance. There is no noticeable scent. The fruit is a pod that opens on one side to release the seeds. The cluster blooms from the top downwards. The oval, alternate, toothed leaves have a wooly, brownish underside. When the petals fall off, the brownish flower spike may be dried and used in dried flower arrangements. It will last for years in these displays. The central stem is initially covered with wooly brown hairs, but as they mature they become smooth and woody. The Steeplebush can be found in moist acidic meadows and pastures, from Minnesota, Quebec, Nova Scotia southwards. In Western Pennsylvania it has been documented in more of the northern counties than in the south. It blooms from July to September. It produces pollen but little nectar. This attracts bees, flies and beetles as pollinators. It seems to grow best in moist to wet soil and in full sunlight. Other common names for this species are Hardhack or Red Spirea. The first of these names refers to the toughness of the stems. A similar species called Meadowsweet (Spirea salicifolia) or White Spirea has white or light pink flowers and lacks the furry brown hairs on the underside of the leaves. I took this photograph at Preston Park in Butler County, PA on August 4, 2014

yard + garden
Hardhack Steeplebush- Spiraea douglasii [Rosaceae]

Beautiful Flowers