How to identify White meadowsweet (Spiraea alba)

How to identify White meadowsweet (Spiraea alba)

White meadowsweet, also known as Meadowsweet, Pipestem

White meadowsweet is a deciduous shrub that typically displays multiple stems and reaches heights of 3 to 6 feet (approximately 90 to 180 cm). Its leaves are simple, alternate, and narrowly elliptic with finely toothed margins. During blooming season, the shrub is adorned with clusters of small, five-petaled, creamy-white flowers that exude a pleasant fragrance. These flowers cluster at the tips of the branches, forming conspicuous, upright, narrow pyramidal shapes. In the fall, the foliage transitions to a striking yellow color, adding seasonal interest to the landscape.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Shrub

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify White meadowsweet

Alternate leaves with toothed margins, transitioning to striking yellow in fall.

Creamy-white flowers in pyramidal clusters, emitting a pleasant fragrance.

Tiny white or pale pink flowers in cone-shaped clusters up to 4 inches (10 cm) long.

Distinctive pod-shaped fruit follicles that split open to disperse seeds.

Smooth, slender stems with sparse branching, reaching up to 3 feet (90 cm) in height.

Detailed Traits of White meadowsweet

Leaf Features

The leaves of white meadowsweet are thin and oblong, typically measuring 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) in length. They have a green-yellow hue that transforms to a striking yellow in the fall. The underside of these leaves may exhibit sparse hairs, adding to their texture. The leaves possess a smooth margin and are arranged alternately along the stem. The vein pattern is pinnate, with a central vein from which secondary veins extend towards the edges.

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

Learn About the Leaf Glossary

Flower Features

The flowers of white meadowsweet are tiny, approximately 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) in diameter, and exhibit a pristine white or delicate pale pink hue. They are arranged in a pyramidal or cone-shaped cluster that can extend up to 4 inches (10 cm) in length. Each flower displays multiple petals around a central stem. Blooming occurs from June to September, offering a visually appealing floral display. The flowers of white meadowsweet contribute significantly to its identification and attractiveness.

Learn About the Flower Glossary

Stem Features

The stem of white meadowsweet is smooth, erect, and fine-textured, with a sparse branching pattern. Each plant features multiple stems that vary in color from dull brown to reddish shades. The stems are typically slender, measuring about 0.2 inches (5 mm) in thickness, and can reach up to 3 feet (90 cm) in height. These distinctive characteristics of white meadowsweet's stems are helpful for identification.

Learn About the Stem Glossary

Fruit Features

The fruit of white meadowsweet manifests as clusters of brown, pod-shaped follicles, each harboring a single seed. Upon reaching maturity, these roughly 5 follicles per fruit desiccate, prompting them to split and disseminate their seeds. The splitting follicles, with their distinctive shape and seed dispersal mechanism, are key for recognizing the fruit of this species. The dried texture and earthy coloration offer additional visual cues for identification, making the fruit distinctly identifiable amidst its natural backdrop.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

A Botanist in Your Pocket

Scan QR code to download

More Plants You May Like and How to Identify Them

Cape jasmine

Gardenia jasminoides is an evergreen shrub with unique, glossy evergreen leaves and stunning flowers. The sophisticated, matte white flowers are often used in bouquets. The exceptional beauty of this ornamental plant has made it a popular and highly appreciated plant amongst gardeners and horticulturalists.

Golden pothos

The golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular houseplant that is commonly seen in Australia, Asia, and the West Indies. It goes by many nicknames, including "devil's ivy", because it is so hard to kill and can even grow in low light conditions. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children.

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum is an annual or perennial herbaceous vine native to Central and South America that produces a large, juicy, edible fruit known as tomato. Today there are over 10000 cultivated varieties. Although tomato is the world’s most popular vegetable, botanically it is a fruit.

Pepper

The pepper are commonly used for cooking in places such as the Southern U.S. and Central America. Most are moderately spicy, though because there are so many variants, the spice level can vary dramatically. Cayenne powder is also a popular seasoning product made from pepper plants.

Swiss cheese plant

The swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) produces bright, glossy leaves and makes a popular houseplant. It is originally native to tropical forest regions in Central America. The nickname swiss cheese plant refers to the small holes that develop in the plant's leaves. The long fruits resemble corncobs and smell sweet and fragrant when ripe.

Bigleaf hydrangea

The bigleaf hydrangea is a deciduous shrub native to Japan, and is known for its lush, oval, colorful inflorescence. The two types of Hydrangea macrophylla are mopheads - with large, ball-shaped, sterile flower clusters, and lace capes - with small round fertile flowers in the center, and sterile flowers on the outer side of each inflorescence. Depending on soil pH, blooms can change color from pink to blue.

White meadowsweet and Their Similar Plants

Japanese meadowsweet vs. White meadowsweet: What's The Difference?

Japanese meadowsweet is considered by many to be an invasive species due to its ability to spread rapidly, creating a dense thicket or hedge. The species traces its roots to Japan, Korea, and China and was introduced in other areas because of its attractive flowers. Use caution when planting to make sure that this shrub can be managed appropriately.

Baby's breath spirea vs. White meadowsweet: What's The Difference?

Baby's breath spirea (Spiraea thunbergii) is a deciduous flowering shrub native to Asia. Baby's breath spirea grows on hillsides of hills. This species grows best in full sunlight.

Bridalwreath spirea vs. White meadowsweet: What's The Difference?

Bridalwreath spirea (Spiraea cantoniensis) is a plant species native to China. Bridalwreath spirea is generally cultivated as an ornamental plant used on the borders of gardens. Spiraea cantoniensis is also known by the common names Bridalwreath spirea, Double White May, and Cape May.

Bridal wreath spirea vs. White meadowsweet: What's The Difference?

Bridal wreath spirea (Spiraea prunifolia) is a flowering tree native to China Korea and Japan. Bridal wreath spirea is considered easy to grow and is often cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens. It blooms in spring.

Willowleaf meadowsweet vs. White meadowsweet: What's The Difference?

Willowleaf meadowsweet (Spiraea salicifolia) is a deciduous perennial shrub that will grow to 1.8 m tall. It is often found in bogs or wet woodlands. It has twiggy branches and small simple leaves. It prefers full sun to partial shade.

Steeplebush vs. White meadowsweet: What's The Difference?

Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa) is a flowering plant species native to eastern North America. Steeplebush grows best in wet soil and full sunlight. This species is also commonly known as meadowsweet and hardhack.

Asian meadowsweet vs. White meadowsweet: What's The Difference?

Asian meadowsweet (Spiraea trilobata) is a hardy deciduous shrub that grows in a variety of soil types under full sun or partial shade. Its native range is central and eastern Asia, but its value as a garden plant has seen it spread throughout most of the world. Asian meadowsweet produces scores of small flowers that tend to attract butterflies.

Japanese meadowsweet 'Gold Mound' vs. White meadowsweet: What's The Difference?

Japanese meadowsweet 'Gold Mound' has a mound-like shape and offers lovely gold-yellow foliage in spring, which turn yellow-green in summer and yellow-orange in fall. It is a cultivar of Japanese meadowsweet and is named for its appearance. Gardeners favor this cultivar as it is generally resistant to diseases and pests..

Identify White meadowsweet easily and quickly

We're also capable of identifying over 12,000 types of plants, flowers, succulents, and trees in your surroundings.

Identify a Plant Online

Key Facts About White meadowsweet

Attributes of White meadowsweet

Plant Type

Shrub

Plant Height

2.5 m

Spread

90 cm to 1.2 m

Leaf Color

Green

Gold

Yellow

Flower Size

3 mm to 8 mm

Flower Color

White

Fruit Color

Brown

Copper

Stem Color

Green

Identify plants with a snap

Instantly identify plants with AI: Snap a photo, and get accurate results within seconds.

Download the App for Free

Scientific Classification of White meadowsweet

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Roses, elms, figs, and allies

Family

Rose

Genus

Spirea

Species

White meadowsweet (Spiraea alba)

Learn More About the White meadowsweet

Distribution Map of White meadowsweet

White meadowsweet, a plant primarily native to temperate regions of North America, has been introduced and established in various parts of northern and central Europe. Due to its adaptability and ornamental value, white meadowsweet is also cultivated in suitable climates beyond its native and introduced ranges.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the White meadowsweet

A Comprehensive Guide to White meadowsweet How to Grow and Care for White meadowsweet