# Japanese Spirea (*Spiraea japonica*) Japanese Spirea is a lovely shrub with bright pink flowers that bloom in the summer. It has green leaves that turn beautiful colors in the fall, making it a great addition to gardens. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Japanese Meadowsweet, Spiraea japonica ![Japanese Spirea](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425874/objects/2482.jpg) ## Appearance The Japanese Spirea is a mounding deciduous shrub with small, oval, green leaves. It produces flattened clusters of tiny pink or white flowers from late spring to summer, giving it a vibrant, compact appearance. Its dense form makes it visually distinct. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Spiraea ## Interesting facts - Gardeners often 'deadhead' spent blooms, encouraging even more flowers to appear later! - Its name, Spiraea, means 'wreath' in Greek, perhaps for its lovely flower clusters! - Many different types exist, with flowers ranging from bright pink to pure white. - The small, light seeds can travel on the wind, helping new plants grow far away! ## Special abilities - **Quick Sprout:** Japanese Spirea can grow rapidly, establishing itself quickly in new areas to compete for sunlight. - **Sun Shield:** This plant has a high tolerance for full sun, allowing it to thrive where other plants might struggle. - **Rebloom Power:** Some varieties can rebloom after pruning, extending their beautiful flowering season for longer. - **Tough Roots:** Japanese Spirea can withstand periods of drought once established, helping it survive dry spells. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 60-180 cm - **Spread:** 60-180 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.4-0.6 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid-summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees collect nectar and pollen from its blooms. - **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Butterflies are attracted to the nectar-rich flowers. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer may browse on its leaves and young stems. - **Shelter:** [Dark-eyed Junco](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dark-eyed-junco) (*Junco hyemalis*) — Small birds seek shelter in its dense branches. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always be gentle around plants and don't eat any parts without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Japanese Spirea? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Japanese Spirea? 60-180 cm ### How wide does Japanese Spirea spread? 60-180 cm ### How big are the flowers on Japanese Spirea? 0.4-0.6 cm ### When does Japanese Spirea bloom? Late spring to mid-summer ### Is Japanese Spirea edible? No ### Is Japanese Spirea toxic? None ### What is Japanese Spirea's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Oak Ridge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oak-ridge-historic-district) — Tennessee, US · Historic District - [Holtwood Environmental Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/holtwood-environmental-preserve) — Pennsylvania, US · Nature Reserve - [Music Row](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/music-row) — Tennessee, US · Historic District - [Tokushima Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tokushima-botanical-garden) — Shikoku, JP · Park [View all places to see Japanese Spirea](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/japanese-spirea) ## Watch - [Play video: Japanese Spirea](https://www.snappit.app/videos/japanese-spirea) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=w6DF9rplfz4) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Japanese Spirea: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/japanese-spirea)