Spirea, << spy REE uh, >> also spelled spiraea, is a group of herbs and shrubs in the rose family that bear white, pink, or rose-colored flowers. Spireas grow in the temperate and cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Gardeners raise them as ornamental plants.
Vanhoutte spirea, one of the best-known species, is a hardy shrub with thick, deep green foliage. Thunberg spirea has more delicate leaves. The hardhack, or steeplebush, another spirea, can be planted in masses. Its flowers grow in narrow, crowded clusters. The plum-leaved spirea is known as bridal wreath. It has white flowers and sometimes grows more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall. The troublesome weed meadowsweet, another notable species, grows in New England. Spireas grow well in good soil but need plenty of moisture and full exposure to the sun.
See also Bridal wreath .
