Willowleaf Meadowsweet
Spiraea salicifolia
- Native to:
- Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Czechia-Slovakia, Hungary, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuril Is., NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Romania, Ukraine
Syrio
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Genus:
- Spiraea
- Species:
- Spiraea salicifolia
- USDA Symbol:
- SPSA2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub
- Height:
- 200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, white
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
aeroplane looper moth (Diachrysia aereoides), Blinded Sphinx (Paonias excaecata), Buck Moth (Hemileuca maia), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Chain-lined geometer moth (Cingilia catenaria), Endopiza spiraeifoliana, Eupithecia strattonata, Eversmann's rustic (Actebia fennica), friendly probole (Probole amicaria), New England buck moth (Hemileuca lucina), Pink-spotted Dart Moth (Pseudohermonassa bicarnea), purplish leafroller moth (Olethreutes permundana), white-fringed olethreutes (Olethreutes albiciliana)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from root crown following fire or cutting.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, fertile, well-drained loam
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers wetland areas and riverbanks
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds are tiny and require light for germination. Surface sow and keep moist.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 10C.