Spirea douglasii
Common Name(s):
Douglas's Spirea
Rose Spirea
Synonym:
Spirea menziesii
Western Spiraea
Flower:
Pink
Blooms :
Jun
to:
Sep
Tiny, fragrant reddishpink flowers have 5 petals and 25-50 stamens in dense, elongate clusters at the end of shoots. The clusters appear 'fuzzy' from the abundance of long stamens
Botanical Description
Fragrant?
YES
Family:
Rosaceae
Med - Lg Shrub (usually >3' and never < 1.5')
Foliage:
Green
Oval green leaves (to 4" long) are felty white-tomentose beneath.
Fall Color?
YES
Dark green leaves transition to yellow, glowing orange, or golden
Deciduous
Photo by:
Heading 6
Persistent cone-shaped seed heads, vibrant shiny, reddish-orange twidgs add interest
Oregon Native?
YES
West State Native?
YES
Origins:
Rose spirea occurs naturally from southern
Alaska south to northern California and east to western
Montana. The elevation range is sea-level to 6,500 ft in
the mountains.
Site Selection
Minimum USDA Hardiness Zone:
4
Water Needs:
M
Sun Needs:
Partial Sun
Deer Resistant?
YES
Firewise?
NO
Height:
2-7'
Spread:
3-6'
Growth Rate:
Fast
Native Habitat:
Marshed, bogs, swamps, wet meadows, along streambanks
Soil:
Prefers sandy or loamy soils. Does not grow well in clay soils.. Soil PH: 5 - 7
Care Recommendations
Maintenance Level:
Low
Fertilizer:
Apply a balanced slow-release 10-10-10 in spring
Mulch:
Shredded bark, wood chips, pine straw
This species can become invasive, as it spreads readily by suckers and seedlings, especially on
flat, moist to wet sites in full sun. Dense thickets can become nearly impenetrable and too competitive for other desirable plant species.
Long Term:
Winter:
Retain seed heads, mulch,
Spring:
Cut back about 1/3 to 1/2 its height, trim off any dead, diseased or crossing branches, keep soil moist, fertilize, mulch, dig up root suckers to keep spread in check
Summer:
Consistent moisture, deadheading to keep tidy, sucker control
Fall:
Ensure soil is moist, well-drained before freezing termperatures, leave seed heads for the wildlife, check for suckering
General Care Comments:
Thrives in moist boggy soils, full sun, careful pruning nd management to control spread
Common Problems
Aggrssive spread, drought stress, too much shade
Diseases:
Fire blight, powdery mildew, leaf spot, root rot
Insects:
Aphids, spider mites, leafrollers
Environmental Problems:
Aggressive spreading, ecological dominance
Pests:
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