While this rare species most commonly occurs along the banks of rocky streams, I've had no trouble cultivating it from a rooted sucker, i...Read Moren a medium of gritty pine bark compost, kept consistently moist, and in a setting that gets only partial sun in the heat of summer. Given its propensity to clone itself from breakaway suckers in nature, one can't help but wonder if its apparent inability to produce viable seed is because it occurs mostly as localized monoclonal populations that lack genetic contrast. If so, it begs the question if two plants of different germplasm may produce viable seed. Unfortunately, the rarity of this species and its protected status makes getting answers difficult.
In the wild, this occurs in cracks in rocks along flowing water, and on gravel bars. However, there are many specimens in the Arnold Arbo...Read Moreretum, so flowing water is not a requirement for its cultivation. It reportedly thrives in full sun under ordinary well-drained garden conditions. http://www.gpcnativegarden.org/articles/Va_Spiraea_Dec_99.ht...
Propagation is by root cuttings or terminal stem cuttings. Seedlings have never been seen in the wild, and plants rarely produce seeds. Seed germination is reportedly extremely poor.
This plant is a US federally listed threatened species, which means it can't be legally transported across state lines without a permit. According to the USDA, it's endangered in OH, NC, TN, and VA, threatened in GA and KY, and extirpated in PA. According to BONAP, it's also present but adventive in LA.
I saw and photographed a few specimens planted along a creek at Morris Arboretum in northwest Philadelphia, PA. The plants were about six...Read More feet high, and the main stems were erect so the plants were erect and yet bushy. It is a good looking plant that reproduces more from suckering than from seed. It is a rare species found in riparian areas in various spots in the South and a little into Ohio. Probably was in some areas of PA also once. It would be good if more arboretums and botanic gardens grow this species to help it survive. I'm sure it could be grown in moist or draining wet soil of many cultivated landscapes, especially good in a more naturalistic landscape format, which works better also for the other two species of North American spirea, being the Steeplebush with pink flowers and the Meadowsweet Spirea with white flowers. Morton Arboretum in northeast IL has a few large specimens planted in their Appalachian Collection in well-drained soil, which is USDA Zone 5a.
This North American spirea is classified as being very rare. It is known from only 7 states, from Ohio to Georgia. It grows along fast ...Read Moreflowing stream edges. Its habitat requirements would probably exclude it as a garden plant.
While this rare species most commonly occurs along the banks of rocky streams, I've had no trouble cultivating it from a rooted sucker, i...Read More
In the wild, this occurs in cracks in rocks along flowing water, and on gravel bars. However, there are many specimens in the Arnold Arbo...Read More
I saw and photographed a few specimens planted along a creek at Morris Arboretum in northwest Philadelphia, PA. The plants were about six...Read More
This North American spirea is classified as being very rare. It is known from only 7 states, from Ohio to Georgia. It grows along fast ...Read More