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Meadowsweet

Spiraea alba

Pyramidal panicles of white flowers in mid-summer. Good for wet meadows and pond edges. The leaves brew into a tea reminiscent of black tea.

Family

Rosaceae

Type

shrub

Lifespan

perennial

Height

3–4 ft

Spacing

3–4 ft apart

Light

sun, part shade, shade

Soil moisture

moist, wet

Soil pH

acidic, neutral

Bloom

June, July, August, September

Bloom colors

white

Wildlife value

songbirds, butterflies, larval host

Caterpillar hosts

~89 butterfly & moth species

Landscape uses

hedge or screen, foundation, rain garden, erosion control

Native states

CT, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SD, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV