Virginia Tech Dendrology

Douglas spiraea Rosaceae Spiraea douglasii Hook. symbol: SPDO
Leaf: Alternate, simple, deciduous, margins toothed near the apex but entire close to the base, oblong to elliptical, 1 to 3 inches long, green above with silvery pubescence below; petiole less than 1/4 inch long.
Flower: Small, pink to red, in dense upright 4 to 6 inch terminal clusters.
Fruit: Fruits are small brown follicles about 1/8 inch borne in upright terminal clusters, persistent.
Twig: Twigs slender and light yellow-brown becoming red-brown and slightly ribbed with age.
Bark: Bark is red-brown and generally smooth, but sometimes shredding.
Form: Erect deciduous shrub, 2-6 feet tall, commonly grows in thickets.
Looks like: Japanese spiraea - rose meadowsweet - shinyleaf spiraea

Additional Range Information: Spiraea douglasii is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - 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