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

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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 © 2021 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