Spiraea japonica L. f.

Japanese Spirea; Japanese Meadowsweet

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Japanese Spirea is an introduced deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub in the Rose family (Rosaceae). It is native to China, Japan, and Korea. Japanese Spirea is commonly cultivated and has been collected as an escape in east and northeast Alabama. Japanese Spirea grows on creek banks, in forests, in urban woodlands, and on roadsides. Plants are branched, clump-forming shrubs to 4 feet in height. Branches are slender, brown in color, and glabrous or pubescent when young. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, ovate to lanceolate in outline, with doubly serrate margins. Leaves are glabrous above and pubescent below, at least along the veins. Flowers are produced in erect terminal corymbs. Each flower has 5 pink to purplish-pink or white petals and 25-30 stamens. The fruit is a follicle. Japanese Spirea is listed as an invasive species in Tennessee where it threatens native Virginia Spiraea (Spiraea virginiana Britton). Japanese Spirea is commonly available from nurseries. Numerous cultivars are available including those with burgundy or yellowish foliage.—A. Diamond.

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Not Native

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