Koeleria macrantha #1 (Prairie June Grass)
December 26, 2022Symphoricarpos albus #3 (Common Snowberry)
December 26, 2022Spiraea alba #3 (White Meadowsweet)
$36.99
-Full Sun
-Wet to Average Soil (FACW)
-Acidic to Neutral pH
-3-6′ Tall by 3-6′ Wide
-Suckering, Mounded Shrub
-Plumes of White Flowers June-Sept.
-Deer tolerant
-Zone 3
-Erosion Control
-Ohio Native
10 in stock
White Meadowsweet is an upright, mounding, deciduous shrub native to sunny, wet landscapes of eastern North America. It is a tough, resilient and reliable plant that looks equally at home whether planted with herbaceous companions or with other woody shrubs, such as the closely related Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa). It is a vigorous shrub that often forms loose colonies and the upright, unbranched stems can grow up to 6′ tall if left unmanaged. The white, spire-like flowers bloom from the top downward, and the blooming period can last for nearly two months. Flowers occur on new wood, so pruning or mowing (where feasible) in late winter or early spring will keep it tidy and floriferous.
This shrub looks its best when allowed to naturalize in a wet meadow situation, around the edges of a pond, and in low, poorly drained areas of the landscape. While it is not bothered by serious pests or diseases, the foliage can be susceptible to powdery mildew and leaf spot (especially in hot, humid summers) and would benefit from being interplanted with other similarly sized plants to help hide the blemishes. Its fall color is usually golden yellow.
White Meadowsweet is host to at least 89 species* of Lepidoptera, making it a valuable food source in wet fields and meadows for insectivorous birds and nestlings. The low-growing, suckering, twiggy growth habit is sought out by several bird species, such as Red-winged Blackbirds, Indigo Buntings, American Goldfinches and Willow Flycatchers, for ideal nesting sites. Many bees, flies, beetles and especially butterflies and moths linger on the flowers for nectar and/or pollen.
Sources:
Native Trees, Shrubs, & Vines by William Cullina
Midwestern Native Shrubs and Trees by Charlotte Adelman & Bernard L. Schwartz
Missouri Botanical Garden
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Illinois Wildflowers
Photo Credits:
Flower Detail: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons