Spiraea splendens var. splendens
(syn. Spiraea densiflora)
Subalpine spirea, rose meadowsweet
Photos: © Mike Tyler Jr,
© 1999 Thayne Tuason and Derrick Ditchburn
Range
Found in
Climate, elevation
600 to 3050 m (1,4)
Local occurrence
Found throughout the
Olympic and Cascade Mountains in
Habitat preferences
Grows at edges of streams and lakes, in montane meadows, gaps in the forest, wooded and rocky
slopes and in open subalpine forests. It prefers to grow in moist
soils, in full sun to light shade. (1,4)
Plant strategy type/successional
stage
Mid-seral to climax
Associated species
Found in the Tsuga mertensiana -
Xerophyllum tenax
association, which includes mountain huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum), pipsissewa
(Chimaphila umbellata), grouseberry (Vaccinium scoparium), Geyer’s sedge (Carex geyeri), coiled lousewort (Pedicularis contorta) and
pink wintergreen (Pyrola asarifolia)
(6)
Also associated with
western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla),
marsh marigold (Caltha biflora),
May be collected as:
Softwood
cuttings, hardwood cuttings, seed, rhizomatous offshoots, layered cuttings. (5)
Collection restrictions or guidelines
Collect seeds when
follicles are dry and begin to open in fall, cutting capsules into paper bags
for collection. Seeds should be light
tan when they have reached maturity.
Seed should remain in a well-ventilated dry area while awaiting cleaning and sowing. (3)
Seed germination
Recommended
48 to 75 day cold-moist stratification. Roll seeds in moist paper towels and store in
open plastic bags in 3°C
refrigeration. (3)
Seed life
Seed longevity is
unknown. (3)
Recommended seed storage conditions
Seeds should be kept
in cool, well-ventilated storage area.
Propagation recommendations
Softwood cuttings: Collect
one-year-old softwood cuttings into plastic bags in early summer and kept
refrigerated until processing. Cuttings
should be 15-20 cm long and roughly 8 mm caliper. Larger cuttings may be directly planted into
1 gallon containers. Rooting may be
aided by application of 5000 ppm liquid IBA (indole butyric acid). (3)
Seeds: Seeds should be
sown shallowly or on surface of medium, as they require light for germination.
(3)
Soil or medium requirements
Cuttings should be
grown in mistbed in 50% perlite
and 50% sand with bottom heat (12 cm below medium) kept at 21°C. Outdoor mistbeds should remain covered with shadecloth
throughout rooting phase. (3)
Seeds are
successfully grown in a mix containing:
-70% 6:1:1 milled
sphagnum peat, perlite, and vermiculite
-30% sand with slow
release fertilizer (3)
Installation form
Usually
outplanted as a container plant with high
establishment success. Fibrous rootballs
of container stock must be well loosened or scored before outplanting.
(3)
Recommended planting density
Space plants 18-36 inches
apart.
Care requirements after installed
Newly planted
individuals must be watered regularly during establishment; soil should not dry
completely between waterings. (3)
Normal rate of growth or spread
Plants grow very
rapidly following establishment. (3)
Sources cited
1. Rose, R., C.E.C. Chachulski
and D.L. Haase.
1998. Propagation of
2. PLANTS Database. United States Department of
Agriculture. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SPSPS.
Accessed 27 May 2006.
3. Native Plant Network. Native Plants Propagation
Protocol Database. http://nativeplants.for.uidaho.edu/network/
Accessed 27 May 2006.
4. Hitchcock, C.L. and A. Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the
5. Dave’s Garden. http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/75346/. Accessed 22 May 2006.
6. Forest
Vegetation of Eastern Washington and
7. Spiraea densiflora. WTU Herbarium Image
Collection.
Data compiled by
Alaine Sommargren, 1 June 2006