Rose Spirea

Spiraea douglasii

The Rose Spirea is a lovely shrub that blooms with pink flowers in the summer. It grows in many places and is great for attracting butterflies and bees!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Rose Spirea has dense clusters of small, fuzzy, rose-pink to purple flowers that form cone-shaped towers at the ends of its woody stems. Its oval, serrated leaves are a vibrant green, often turning yellow or orange in autumn. The striking flower clusters make it visually distinct from many other green shrubs.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRosalesFamilyRosaceaeGenusSpiraea

Rose Spirea

Interesting facts

Its roots are like super glue, holding riverbanks together to prevent floods!

Its tiny flowers grow in fuzzy, pyramid-shaped clusters, making the plant look like it's covered in pink clouds!

Some people used its strong, flexible branches to make baskets long ago!

This tough plant can grow new plants from its branches if they touch soil, helping it spread quickly!

Special abilities

Rose Spirea has a strong, spreading root system that helps it hold soil firmly, preventing erosion along waterways.

Rose Spirea can produce abundant, nectar-rich flowers that attract many different bees and butterflies to help it reproduce.

Rose Spirea has special adaptations allowing it to thrive in damp, soggy soils where many other plants would struggle.

Measurements & details

Height: 120-180 cm
Spread: 120-180 cm
Flower Size: 0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season: Summer
Edible: No
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Two-spotted Bumblebee

Bombus bifarius

Collects nectar and pollen.

eaten by

Mule Deer

Odocoileus hemionus

Browses on leaves and twigs.

depends on

Chalcedon Checkerspot

Euphydryas chalcedona

Larvae feed on its leaves.

pollinates

European Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Gathers nectar and pollen.

Traits

Deciduous

Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Shrub

A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Fragrant Flower

Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

Fall Color

Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.