Spiraea tomentosa
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Narrow steeple-shaped spikes of rose-pink flowers rise above blue-green foliage in midsummer, tapering to a point in a way that sets this apart from the flat-topped spireas. Spiraea tomentosa is a native shrub growing 3 to 6 feet tall and wide in full sun to part sun, hardy from Zone 3 through Zone 8.
Bloom starts in July and runs into September, later than most shrubs and useful for that reason. Bees and butterflies work the flowers heavily.
The leaves carry a felted, woolly coating on their undersides, which is where the botanical name comes from.
Steeplebush grows wild in wet meadows, bogs, and along pond edges, so it takes wet ground and even standing water, and it struggles in a dry bed. It spreads by rhizome into a colony, which suits a rain garden, a wet meadow, or a naturalized planting. Deer leave it alone.
Height 3'- 6' Spread 3'- 6'
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8
Lowest Temperatures -40°F to -30°F
Full sun to part sun- at least 4 hours direct sun per day
CT, DC, DE, GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV
