White Meadowsweet
Spiraea alba
Also known as White Spirea, White Spiraea, Pale Bridewort
Climate Match for your location
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A native deciduous shrub with feathery white flower panicles blooming mid to late summer. Naturally suited to wet and marshy areas, it makes an excellent choice for rain gardens and streamside plantings.
Why grow it
Spiraea alba offers earlier and more reliable flowering than many native wetland shrubs, with blooms appearing consistently from mid to late summer. Its tolerance for both standing water and periodic drought makes it more adaptable than some Spiraea species to variable moisture conditions, and its moderate mature size (3-6 feet) fits smaller rain gardens better than larger native shrubs. The feathery panicles provide nectar for pollinators without requiring deadheading to maintain appearance.
Watch out for
This species spreads readily via rhizomes in favorable conditions and can become dense; periodic thinning or strategic placement helps manage spread in smaller gardens. Performance declines noticeably in consistently dry soils, even though it will tolerate brief dry periods once established.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A native deciduous shrub with feathery white flower panicles blooming mid to late summer. Naturally suited to wet and marshy areas, it makes an excellent choice for rain gardens and streamside plantings.
Climate Match for your location
See how well White Meadowsweet grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Spiraea alba offers earlier and more reliable flowering than many native wetland shrubs, with blooms appearing consistently from mid to late summer. Its tolerance for both standing water and periodic drought makes it more adaptable than some Spiraea species to variable moisture conditions, and its moderate mature size (3-6 feet) fits smaller rain gardens better than larger native shrubs. The feathery panicles provide nectar for pollinators without requiring deadheading to maintain appearance.
Watch out for
This species spreads readily via rhizomes in favorable conditions and can become dense; periodic thinning or strategic placement helps manage spread in smaller gardens. Performance declines noticeably in consistently dry soils, even though it will tolerate brief dry periods once established.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar shrubs you might consider:
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