Steeplebush is a mound-shaped, deciduous shrub 2-4’ tall that suckers to form a thicket of erect, slender plumes. Pink to rose-purple flowers bloom from top to bottom July through September. The orange, exfoliating bark and reddish-gold fall foliage make this a plant with four-season interest in the garden. Though it performs best in full sun, steeplebush tolerates light shade. Usually found in poorly drained areas, it prefers wetter soils with some acidity; however, it tolerates a wide range of soils with medium moisture. This is a great plant for those who struggle with deer populations, because deer tend to avoid the astringent foliage. The flowers have abundant nectar and pollen that attract bees, flies, and beetles. Steeplebush has no serious insect or disease problems, though it is susceptible to diseases that attack other members of the rose family. To encourage a longer bloom period, remove faded flowers throughout the season. Because flowers appear on new-growth wood, pruning should be done in late winter or early spring.
 
The common name is a reference to the steeple-like clusters of flowers. Another common name for steeplebush, “hardhack,” refers to the difficulty early farmers encountered in trying to remove the plant from their meadows. Even after the plants were cut, they sent out new stems from their roots. Spiraea comes from an ancient Greek word meaning "spiraled or twisted wreath," and tomentosa means "covered with densely matted hairs." A similar species, Japanese Spiraea, is a non-native, invasive plant; it has flat-topped clusters of pink flowers and is commonly used in landscaping.
 
Native habitats include wet meadows, boggy or marshy fields, and lake or pond margins. This is a great plant for rain gardens, pond margins, low spots, naturalized areas, or container plantings. Use it as a low hedge for paths and walkways, or incorporate it into foundation plantings. Plant en masse for drifts of color.
 
Plant Characteristics:  
Grows 2-4’ tall and 3-5’ wide.
 
Prefers full sun but tolerates a little shade.
 
Prefers wet, acidic soils, but tolerates medium-moisture soils, including clay.
 
Flowers are about 1/16” wide with five rounded petals and numerous long, pink stamens. Flowers occur in densely packed clusters 3-4” wide and up to 8” long at the ends of stems. The fruits are in clusters of five tiny pods, each with a single seed. The brown pods are covered with a woolly white mat of hairs. 
 
Alternate, elliptical-shaped leaves are about 2 ½” long with serrated margins. The upper surface is dark green and the underside is densely covered with woolly hairs.
 
Slender, unbranched stems are gray or reddish brown and coated with matted, woolly hairs. As they age, the bark becomes papery and peels off in strips.
 
Wildlife Value:
The caterpillars of the spring and summer azure butterflies feed on the flowers, buds, and developing seed capsules.  Larvae of sharp-lined yellow moth, blind-eyed sphinx (pictured here), and Spiraea leaftier moth feed on the leaves. In all, the Spirea genus supports 68 species of Lepidoptera. Mammals tend to avoid the bitter foliage.
 
Medicinal, Edible and Other Uses:
The Algonquin reportedly used an infusion of leaves and stems as a medicinal tea. Other Native Americans steeped the leaves to treat dysentery, sickness in pregnancy, and pain during childbirth.
 
There are no known edible uses.