Japanese meadowsweet Spiraea japonica

Features

Shrub.

Species	Scrubs (Nanofanerophytes)
Living space	Mixed forest, Wet site
Size	up to 2 m

Description

Spiraea japonica is one of several Spiraea shrubs with alternate, simple leaves, on wiry, freely branching, erect stems. The stems are brown to reddish-brown, round in cross-section and sometimes hairy. The shrub reaches 1.2 m to almost 2 m in height and about the same in width. The deciduous leaves are generally an ovate shape about 2.5 cm to 7.5 cm long, have toothed margins, and alternate along the stem. Clusters of rosy-pink flowers are found at the tips of the branches. The seeds measure about 2.5 mm in length and are found in small lustrous capsules. The plant is grown as an ornamental plant, which is found in nature in the undergrowth of forests on an acidic basis, especially in slightly more humid places. Invasive.