by Marilee Henry
Though many of you may be familiar with Douglas's spirea, which is a tall bush with terminal pink pyramidal flower clusters that can form large thickets in moist wild areas, several other species of spirea, smaller and less aggressively spreading, are beautiful compact plants well-suited for an urban garden.
A member of the rose family, subalpine spirea (Spiraea splendens), pictured above, occurs naturally on both sides of the Cascades ranging from British Columbia to California. It is found in moist, sunny to partially shaded middle to subalpine elevations, but can also thrive in the same moisture and sun regimes in well-draining spots in our lowland western Washington gardens. At maturity this shrub stands 3 to 4 feet tall with a similar spread. Its cool blue-green alternate leaves that are toothed at their ends, together with shocking-pink flat-topped flower clusters, are a winning combination. The long pink stamens rising above the flower petals give the clusters a luscious fuzzy appearance reminding me of cotton candy! Perfect elements for flower gardens, borders, meadows, or forested openings. Even in winter this deciduous shrub's red-brown bark provides very attractive contrast. Avoid locations in direct hot afternoon sun and mulch well after planting.
Another spirea species well suited to our area but preferring a drier garden location is shiny-leaf spirea (Spiraea lucida). Similar in height but thinner in spread, this plant features flat-topped creamy-white flower clusters and works well as an understory addition in partially sunny wooded margins or as a grouping of several plants in more open locations.
All of our native spirea species are beautiful attractors for native pollinators, being host plants for 57 species of moth or butterfly larvae, and for providing nectar and pollen for many native bees, bumblebees, and flies in our region. And remember, those larvae are a critical source of dense high-energy nutrition for baby birds! If this food source is not available locally, our birds cannot feed enough chicks to keep their populations stable. You can look up some moths and butterflies that use these and other native plants by inputting your zip code here.
Please note that when buying native plants, be sure to get native species from this region. Not cultivars of native species, which have been changed to suit human preferences and might not be useful to native insects and other pollinators.
Native species of this region, when planted in appropriate sites, are also best suited to our climate and soils and will require less maintenance in your garden once established.
Always remember, "You are nature's best hope!" - Doug Tallamy, author of "Nature's Best Hope", "Bringing Nature Home", and "How Can I Help? Saving Nature with Your Yard".
Marilee Henry
Kirkland Community Wildlife Habitat Team Member, Washington Native Plant Society (WNPS) Native Plant Steward, Green Kirkland Steward, Finn Hill Neighborhood Alliance Contributor
June 7, 2025, Juanita Garden Tour, 10am - 3pm
WNPS native plant landscaping and native nursery vendors lists
UW-SER Garden Tours and Plant Sale Calendar
Northwest Meadowscapes for meadow bulb pre-orders