Spiraea douglasii
Common name: 
Douglas Spirea
Western Spirea
Hardhack
Pronunciation: 
sp-i-REE-a dug-LAS-ei
Family: 
Rosaceae
Genus: 
Spiraea
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
Yes
  • Deciduous shrub, erect, 3-7 ft (1-2 m), compact, freely suckering, branches slender and brown.  Leaves alternate, simple, oblong, 4-10 x 1-2.5 cm, base entire, irregular serrate or toothed above the middle, dark green glabrous above, whitish beneath.  Flowers deep pink, crowded in fragrant clusters (panicles) 5-30 cm long, pyramidal to oblong, appearing powdery from the minute projecting stamens.
  • Sun.  Does well in wet areas  Retains brown seed heads
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 5  Native range from Oregon to Alaska, found in marsh borders, stream banks, and wet meadows, sometimes found in drier situations.
  • Oregon State Univ. campus: Hort Garden, south of the walk to Cordley, near the service road.
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • flower cluster

    flower cluster

  • leaves

    leaves

  • flowers and leaf

    flowers and leaf

  • plant habit, mid-summer

    plant habit, mid-summer

  • flower and fruit cluster

    flower and fruit cluster

  • shoots, fall

    shoots, fall

  • plant habit, fruit cluster, winter

    plant habit, fruit cluster, winter