White Meadowsweet (Spiraea alba): A Bit of White in The Green World

Plant Family: Rose, Rosacea

Wetland Indicator Status FACW

White Meadowsweet in a sedge meadow.
White Meadowsweet in a sedge meadow.

White Meadowsweet (Spiraea alba) is a common, beautiful shrub of sunny wetlands.  They are not very tall, usually under four feet in height. The white flowers are small, but numerous.  Hardhack or steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa) is a common pink-flowered relative.  Spiraea species are commonly sold in plant nurseries.

Measdowsweet (Spirea alba)
Meadowsweet (Spirea alba) is a common shrub of sedge meadows around the Winnebago Lakes.