Spiraea tomentosa (Steeplebush)

Spiraea tomentosa, commonly called steeplebush or occasionally hardhack, is a suckering, deciduous shrub native to much of eastern North America. Typically found in wet, boggy areas like fields and meadows prone to seasonal flooding, river and lake margins, or wetlands, steeplebush grows to 2-4' tall with a slightly larger spread to about 5' wide. Like other related Spiraea, steeplebush is noted for its showy, cone-shaped clusters of flowers, which bloom in striking shades of purple-pink throughout the summer and attract butterflies and a variety of other pollinators. Steeplebuh draws its name from the steeple-like flower spikes it produces, and draws its other common name, hardhack, from its tough, fibrous stalks, which sucker to form dense colonies over time.

As they are native to wetter areas, Spiraea tomentosa prefers acidic, medium to wet soils, and tolerates a variety of soil consistencies, as well as deer damage. Preferring full sun exposure, steeplebush puts on an attractive floral display through much of the summer, and the display can be extended further by regular deadheading of spent flowers. Whether you choose to deadhead or not in your home garden, Spiraea tomentosa has a ton of ecological appeal and acts as a good addition to almost any wet location around the home landscape, but especially planted in masses for screens and borders or for a showy specimen for small spaces and pollinator gardens. Steeplebush is additionally an underrated choice for rain gardens and wetland restoration projects, as its native range in eastern wetlands may be threatened by drainage projects and urban sprawl.