Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Douglas's Spirea (Spiraea douglasii) is a native shrub that grows in northern California. It is moderately fast growing and long-lived. It grows in a semi-upright form to a height of 7 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are purple and striking, and bloom in the mid summer. Leaves are dark green and deciduous. It tends to grow at elevations from 0-6400 feet.

Plant type

Shrub

Size

5 - 7 ft Tall
3 - 4 ft Wide

Form

Upright

Growth rate

Fast, Moderate

Dormancy

Evergreen, Winter Deciduous

Fragrance

Pleasant

Calscape icon
Color

Purple, Pink

Flowering season

Summer

Special uses

Hedge

Sun

Partial Shade, Full Sun

Water

Moderate

Summer irrigation

Keep moist

Ease of care

Easy

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to -10 - 0° F

Soil drainage

Fast, Medium, Slow

Soil description

Prefers sandy or loamy soils. Does not grow well in clay soils.
Soil PH: 5 - 7

Propagation

For propagating by seed: 1-3 mos. stratification. Rose spirea may also be propagated by readily cuttings from softwood, semihardwood, and dormant hardwood; by layering; through rhizomes and root segments (in spring); and division.

Sunset Zones

1, 2, 4*, 5*, 6*, 7*, 8, 9, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

Site type

Moist forests, creeksides or other damp areas

Plant communities

Red Fir Forest, Forest, Wetland-Riparian

Rose Spirea is widely tolerant of many growing conditions, but can become invasive as it spreads readily, but with under careful management can be easily controlled. Consider planting with Christmas Berry (Heteromeles arbutifolia), Blue Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), and Brown Dogwood (Cornus glabrata).

Bats
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

1 confirmed and 33 likely

Confirmed Likely

Lorquin's Admiral

Limenitis lorquini

Acleris bowmanana

Adelphagrotis Indeterminata

Adelphagrotis indeterminata

Common Gray

Anavitrinella pampinaria