Native Steeplebush Adds Beauty and Attracts Butterflies

It’s not your common spirea found in many commercial and home landscapes; but rather it’s less utilized relative and North American native shrub known as steeplebush or hardhack (Spiraea tomentosa).

This adaptable shrub is hardy in zones 3 to 8.  It prefers full sun, acidic sandy soils with wet to moist conditions, but it will tolerate light shade and a wide range of soils.

Steeplebush grows 2 to 4 feet tall and much wider as its suckering nature allows it to form colonies. This makes it a great choice for pond side plantings, hedges, natural areas, rain gardens and bank stabilization.

The spires of pink flowers appear from mid-summer into fall. Light deadheading will encourage more bloom. The attractive flowers help attract beneficial insects like bees and butterflies. It’s a nectar source for the rare Karner Blue butterfly and the leaves are a favorite food for several caterpillars and moths.

A bit more information: Another native spirea, Meadowseet (Spiraea alba), produces spires of white flowers and is hardy in zones 3 to 7. It makes a great cut flower and is a butterfly favorite.

Tags

trees-shrubs-roses-vines-groundcovers butterflies beneficial-insects bees

Related

Audio

Add Texture, Beauty and Bee Appeal to the Garden with Calamint Calamintha nepeta nepeta

Audio

Prairie Dock

Audio

Dressing Up Garden Beds

Audio

Stiff Coreopsis Coreopsis palmata

Audio

White Snakeroot

Article

2025 Energy Park Gardens

Audio

The Fly Responsible for Chocolate

Audio

Heat-Loving Annuals for the Garden and Containers

Audio

Grow Your Own Aromatherapy Garden

• ← Previous
• 1 (current)
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• …
• 13
• Next →