Spiraea splendens

Spiraea splendens is a shrub of the rose family (Rosaceae) native to the western mountains of North America, from California to British Columbia, commonly known as dense-flowered spiraea, rose meadowsweet,[4] rosy spiraea, subalpine spiraea,[4] and mountain spiraea.[5][6] It is commonly found at elevations between 2,000 and 11,000 feet on inland mountain ranges.[5] The plant is adapted to cold, moist, rocky slopes, subalpine forests and meadows.[5]

Spiraea splendens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Spiraea
Species:
S. splendens
Binomial name
Spiraea splendens
Baumann ex K. Koch
Synonyms[1][2][3]
  • Spiraea arbuscula Greene
  • Spiraea betulifolia var. rosea A. Gray
  • Spiraea densiflora Nutt. ex Greenm. nom illeg.

It is a woody shrub rarely reaching a meter in height. It has light green toothed leaves which turn yellow as cold weather approaches. The plant bears fragrant, fuzzy pom-poms of bright rosy pink flowers in the summer. The fruit is a tiny dry pod, no more than one eighth of an inch in length.

Native Americans made a tea-like drink from the leaves.[7]

Mountain spiraea flowers & buds close
Spiraea splendens plants in Ansel Adams Wilderness

References
  1. USDA Plants Profile for S. splendens var. splendens
  2. USDA Plants Profile for S. splendens var. rosea
  3. The International Plant Names Index
  4. Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) (2014). "Spiraea splendens". E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia [eflora.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Retrieved 7 September 2014.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  5. Sullivan, Steven. K. (2013). "Spiraea splendens". Wildflower Search. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  6. Sierra Nevada Wildflowers, Karen Wiese, 2nd ed, 2013, p 89
  7. Reiner, Ralph E. (1969). Introducing the Flowering Beauty of Glacier National Park and the Majestic High Rockies. Glacier Park, Inc. p. 78.

Casebeer, M. (2004). Discover California Shrubs. Sonora, California: Hooker Press. ISBN 0-9665463-1-8.


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