Spiraea japonica var. alpina
Common name: 
Daphne Spirea
Pronunciation: 
sp-i-REE-a ja-PON-i-ka var. AL-pi-nah
Family: 
Rosaceae
Genus: 
Spiraea
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Deciduous shrub, low growing, 2 tall by 5 ft wide (0.6 x 1.5 m), mounding.  Leaves alternate, simple, oval-oblong, 1.3-2.5 cm long, 5-veined, sharp serrations, blue-green.  Flowers are pink-rose, borne in 10 cm flat-topped clusters (corymbs).
  • Sun.  Retains old (brown), seed heads, shear to remove.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 4  Its origin is unclear, but probably of garden origin.  The form does not come true from seed (Dirr, 1998).
  • Oregon State Univ. campus: parking lot at Washington Ave. on the west side of 11th St.
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • plant habit, flowering in border

    plant habit, flowering in border

  • leaves and flower clusters

    leaves and flower clusters