# 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! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Rose Spirea](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Spiraea_douglasii1UME.JPG&width=800) Photo: Epibase, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spiraea_douglasii1UME.JPG) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Spiraea ## 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 - **Riverbank Anchor:** Rose Spirea has a strong, spreading root system that helps it hold soil firmly, preventing erosion along waterways. - **Pollinator Beacon:** Rose Spirea can produce abundant, nectar-rich flowers that attract many different bees and butterflies to help it reproduce. - **Wetland Wanderer:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](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. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [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. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay on paths when exploring plants, and don't touch without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Rose 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 Rose Spirea? 120-180 cm ### How wide does Rose Spirea spread? 120-180 cm ### How big are the flowers on Rose Spirea? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Rose Spirea bloom? Summer ### Is Rose Spirea edible? No ### Is Rose Spirea toxic? None ### What is Rose Spirea's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Berry Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berry-botanic-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Bellevue Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellevue-botanical-garden) — Washington, US · Botanical Garden - [Nobles Emigrant Trail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nobles-emigrant-trail) — California, US · Trail - [Mill Lake Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mill-lake-park) — British Columbia, CA · Park - [Brackendale Eagles Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brackendale-eagles-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Seaquest State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/seaquest-state-park) — Washington, US · State Park [View all places to see Rose Spirea](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/rose-spirea) ## 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: [Rose Spirea: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rose-spirea)