Steeplebush

Spiraea tomentosa

Steeplebush is a lovely shrub with fluffy pink flowers that bloom in summer. It grows in wet areas and is great for attracting butterflies and bees!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Steeplebush has distinctive, steeple-shaped clusters of tiny, fuzzy pink flowers that look like bottlebrushes. Its slender stems often have a reddish-brown hue. The leaves are typically dark green, lance-shaped, and slightly hairy underneath.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRosalesFamilyRosaceaeGenusSpiraea

Photo: Steven G. JohnsonCC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

Steeplebush

Interesting facts

Even after flowering, its brown seed capsules can stay on the plant all winter long, adding interest!

Its unique flowers are often called 'hardhack' because their stems are tough to cut!

Small birds love to hide and nest in the dense, twiggy branches of the Steeplebush!

Some Native American tribes traditionally brewed tea from its leaves for medicinal purposes!

Special abilities

Steeplebush can thrive in soggy, waterlogged soils that most plants avoid, helping it survive in swampy areas.

Steeplebush has dense clusters of tiny flowers that attract many different insects all at once for efficient pollination.

Steeplebush can form dense thickets with strong roots, helping prevent soil erosion, especially near water bodies.

Measurements & details

Height: 60-150 cm
Spread: 60-120 cm
Flower Size: 0.3-0.5 cm
Bloom Season: Summer
Edible: No
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

Pollinates

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Bombus impatiens

Visits flowers for nectar

Eats

Frosted Elfin

Callophrys irus

Larvae feed on leaves

Eaten by

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Browses on stems and leaves

Shelter

American Goldfinch

Carduelis tristis

Hides in dense thickets

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.

Cluster Flower

Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.

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.

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.

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Plants

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always stay on paths and don't pick plants without asking an adult.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Steeplebush?

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 Steeplebush?

60-150 cm

How wide does Steeplebush spread?

60-120 cm

How big are the flowers on Steeplebush?

0.3-0.5 cm

When does Steeplebush bloom?

Summer

Is Steeplebush edible?

Is Steeplebush toxic?

None

What is Steeplebush's lifecycle?