Image of Spiraea tomentosa
image of Shrub
Spiraea tomentosa
Steeplebush
Spirée Tomenteuse

Obsolete Names

  • hardhack
  • tomentose meadowsweet
  • spirée rose
  • thé du Canada
No seeds available for this plant.

We are not accepting seeds for this plant at the moment.

Bloom colour: Pink Bloom period: July - September
Max Height: 4.0 feet
Max Width: 3.0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light condition:
Full sun More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Part shade More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Moisture medium Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan : Perennial
Gardener Experience:
beginner friendly Suitable for beginner gardeners
does not spread Does not spread uncontrollably
plant germinate easy Easy to germinate
Landscape uses:
shoreline_rehab Suitable for shoreline rehabilitation
container suitable Suitable for container garden
school garden Suitable for school gardens
Ecological Benefits: No ecological benefits information available.
Tolerates:
Salt Tolerant Tolerates salt conditions
Deer Resistant Deer resistant
rabbit resistant Rabbit resistant
limestone Tolerant Tolerates limestone conditions
acidic soil Tolerant Tolerates acidic soil conditions
transplantation Tolerant Tolerates transplantation

Plant Distribution

Native to Ottawa region: Yes

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Spiraea tomentosa
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent
View taxonomy on Canadensys

View on iNaturalist

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Atlantic Maritime
  • Ecozone-Mixed Wood Plain
  • Ecozone-Boreal Shield
  • Ecozone-Boreal_Plains
  • Atlantic_Maritime

Butterflies Supported by Spiraea tomentosa

  • Celastrina ladon (Spring Azure)
  • Olethreutes permundana (Raspberry Leafroller)

Bees Supported by Spiraea tomentosa

No bee data available for this plant.

Complementary Plants Plants that grow in similar conditions, that bloom at the same time.

  • No complementary plants found.

Sowing Information

  • Sowing depth: Surface sow
  • Sow before February
  • Stratification duration: 60 days
  • Self-seeding

Harvesting Information

  • Harvesting indicator: Pods are brown and crisp and starting to open, seeds are dark and tiny stem attaching to the main stem is brown. Seeds easily fall off pod when shaken, and little stem connecting the pod to the main stem is brown (not green)
  • Harvesting mean: Shake seed head in paper bag
  • Seed Viability Test: No test needed before donating
  • Packaging Measure: 1 rounded 1/32 teaspoon
  • Seed Storage: Air Dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp, shaking seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
  • On Cultivar: Yes, do not donate unless you know source, and there are no known cultivars in your garden or at proximity