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Spiraea douglasii - Hook.

Common Name Steeplebush, Rose spirea, Menzies' spirea
Family Rosaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Almost always found in wet soils in redwood and red fir forests from sea level to elevations of 2100 metres[276].
Range Western N. America. Rarely naturalized in Britain[17].
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Spiraea douglasii Steeplebush, Rose spirea, Menzies


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Epibase
Spiraea douglasii Steeplebush, Rose spirea, Menzies
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Epibase

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Spiraea douglasii is a deciduous Shrub growing to 2.5 m (8ft 2in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower from June to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

S. menziesii.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


An infusion of the seeds has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

The branches have been used to make brooms[257].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Tolerates most soils[200], but prefers a good loamy soil, abundant moisture and full sunlight[11, 200]. Prefers a moist lime-free soil[182], plants quickly become chlorotic on chalk soils[200]. A very cold hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°c[200]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[11]. A rampant suckering shrub, it quickly produces dense thickets and can be used for large-scale naturalistic plantings[200]. It is apt to get thin and poor unless divided up fairly regularly and replanted in fairly good soil[1].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame if possible. It is likely to require stratification before it germinates, so stored seed should be sown in a cold frame as early in the year as you receive it. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a light sandy soil a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, 15cm long, October/November in an outdoor frame[200]. Another report says that September is a good time to do this[11]. Division of suckers in early spring[200]. They can be planted out straight into their permanent positions.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (British Columbia), United States (Alaska (southeast), Idaho (north & central), Oregon, Washington, California (north))

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Holodiscus dumosusRock SpiraeaShrub4.5 4-8  LMHSNDM11 
Sorbaria sorbifoliafalse spiraeaShrub1.8 2-7 FLMHSNM10 
Spiraea albaWhite MeadowsweetShrub1.5 5-9  LMHSNM11 
Spiraea betulifolia aemiliana Shrub0.3 4-8  LMHNM10 
Spiraea blumei Shrub1.5 5-9  LMHSNM10 
Spiraea canescens Shrub3.0 4-8  LMHSNM002
Spiraea henryi Shrub3.0 5-9  LMHNM10 
Spiraea hirsuta Shrub1.5 -  LMHNM10 
Spiraea japonicaJapanese Spiraea, Japanese meadowsweetShrub1.5 4-8  LMHSNM003
Spiraea nervosa angustifolia Shrub1.5 5-9  LMHNM10 
Spiraea prunifoliaBridalwreath SpiraeaShrub2.5 4-8 MLMHSNM11 
Spiraea pyramidataSpireaShrub1.0 5-9  LMHSNM11 
Spiraea salicifoliaBridewort, Willowleaf meadowsweetShrub1.8 4-8  LMHSNM111
Spiraea thunbergiiThunberg's meadowsweet, Thunberg SpireaShrub1.5 4-8 MLMHSNM003
Spiraea tomentosaHardhack, SteeplebushShrub1.5 3-7  LMHSNM02 
Spiraea x argutaGarland SpiraeaShrub2.5 4-8  LMHSNM003

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Hook.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Mark T Pierson   Mon Jul 12 23:05:59 2004

I was looking for some detail re.my Spiraea Douglasii, and seeking to propagate it. After trying various of the websites that came up when I put the plant's name into a search engine, I tried yours (ie.one of the "results" of the search) which was much the most helpful. Thanks!

PS: I live in England, and although my Spiraea D. may not be as large as in the USA (where everything seems to be larger than here!!) it is certainly growing OK. From recollection it has come with me from my last two homes [or rather, the gardens of those homes], so it has endured moving also. I looked at the (old) packet recently and found that it was bought when the shop (not a garden centre) was selling certain plants off cheaply!

Mark T Pierson   Mon Jul 12 23:05:59 2004

I was looking for some detail re.my Spiraea Douglasii, and seeking to propagate it. After trying various of the websites that came up when I put the plant's name into a search engine, I tried yours (ie.one of the "results" of the search) which was much the most helpful. Thanks!

PS: I live in Essex, and although my Spiraea D. may not be as large as I have seen pictures of some in the USA (where everything seems to be larger than here!!) it is certainly growing OK. From recollection it has come with me from my last two homes [or rather, the gardens of those homes], so it has endured moving also. I looked at the (old) packet recently and found that it was bought when the shop (not a proper garden centre) was selling certain plants off cheaply! (I altered this note after pressing "confirm", so it may be partly duplicated - sorry!)

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