Spiraea alba

Common Names

White Meadowsweet, Meadowsweet, Narrow-Leaf Meadowsweet, American Meadowsweet, Queen of the Meadows, Spirea, Eastern Meadowsweet, Pale Bridewort

Summary

Meadowsweet is an upright, deciduous shrub native to the eastern and midwestern United States, growing about 3–4 ft tall and wide. Leaves are alternate, narrow, and toothed, with green foliage that turns yellow-brown in fall. Flowers form cone-shaped clusters 3–4 inches long, white, blooming June–August. Fruits mature in September and are not ornamental, but birds eat them.

It grows in loamy, well-drained soil with full sun to dappled shade, flowering best in full sun. Native habitats include wet prairies, wet river bottom prairies, and open ground along streams or lakes, making it suitable for low spots that collect water, near water features, riparian corridors, or rain gardens. May reseed; deadhead after flowering to reduce seed set. Hardiness zones 3–7; deer resistant; attracts bees.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-4 feet

Spread

3-4 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-7

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun. Tolerates partial shade.

Soil Type

Loamy, moist, well-drained soil.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Acidic to mildly alkaline soils

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Summer

Foliage Color

Green, Yellow-green, Gold

Fall Foliage Color

Golden-yellow to brown

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate growth rate, 5–10 years to reach ultimate height

Seasons of Interest

Summer and Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, birds