Search Fact Sheets Virginia Tech Dendrology

narrowleaf spiraea Rosaceae Spiraea alba var. alba Du Roi Listen to the Latin Print a QR link to this factsheet symbol: SPALA
Leaf: Alternate, simple, finely serrated, narrowly lance-shaped, 2 to 3 inches long, green above, paler below.
Flower: Small, white, in narrow, upright 4 to 6 inch terminal clusters, appearing in mid-summer.
Fruit: Narrow clusters of 5-parted dry capsules, persistent.
Twig: Slender, stiff, "wandlike", largely unbranched, reddish brown; leaf scar small and raised, 1 bundle scar.
Bark: Smooth, grayish to reddish brown eventually peeling off in fine strips.
Form: A multi-stemmed shrub to 4 feet tall.
 Looks like: meadowsweet

narrowleaf spiraea leaf image
narrowleaf spiraea flower image
narrowleaf spiraea fruit image
narrowleaf spiraea twig image
narrowleaf spiraea bark image
narrowleaf spiraea form image
narrowleaf spiraea map image

Additional Range Information: Spiraea alba var. alba is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information