How to identify Baby's breath spirea (Spiraea thunbergii)

How to identify Baby's breath spirea (Spiraea thunbergii)

Baby's breath spirea, also known as Thunberg's spiraea

Baby's breath spirea is an upright, deciduous shrub that typically grows to about 5 feet (1.5 meters) in height and width. Its form is loose, resembling a fountain with wiry, outward-arching branches. This shrub is characterized by its twiggy structure and requires post-bloom pruning to maintain its shape. Exhibiting medium moisture requirements, baby's breath spirea prefers well-drained soil and thrives in full sun to partial shade. Its blooms, which appear on growth from the previous summer, are prominent features for identification.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Shrub

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Baby's breath spirea

Twiggy structure with outward-arching branches resembling a fountain.

White flowers in small clusters bloom in April, covering the shrub.

Yellow-green leaves with serrulated margins and bronze-orange tinge in fall.

Slender stems with zig-zag pattern, light brown color, and smooth texture.

Detailed Traits of Baby's breath spirea

Leaf Features

The leaves of baby's breath spirea are yellow-green, measuring 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8 cm) long and 0.25 inch (0.6 cm) wide. In the fall, they turn bronze with an orange tinge. The leaves are acuminate to acute, narrowly cuneate, and serrulate from the apex nearly to the base. They are glabrous with an extremely short petiole, providing a sleek texture. These distinctive characteristics make the leaves an important identification feature.

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Flower Features

Baby's breath spirea produces small clusters of white flowers that bloom in April. The inflorescences are sessile and umbellate, located in the axils of the branches. Each flower features five petals and measures less than 0.5 inch (1.27 cm) in diameter. The delicate petals create a charming and subtle floral display suitable for identifying this plant. The flowers bloom in such a manner that they almost cover the entire shrub, giving it a stunning, white appearance during the blooming period.

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Stem Features

The stems of baby's breath spirea are very slender, measuring approximately 0.1 inches (2.5 mm) in diameter. They are slightly angled and exhibit a distinct zig-zag pattern. The coloration is light brown, contributing to their unique appearance. The stems are glabrous, meaning they are smooth and lack any hair or fuzz. This combination of slenderness, angularity, zig-zag growth, light brown color, and smooth texture makes the stems an identifiable feature of baby's breath spirea.

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Baby's breath spirea and Their Similar Plants

Japanese meadowsweet vs. Baby's breath spirea: 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.

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

White meadowsweet (Spiraea alba) is a perennial shrub that grows from 91 to 183 cm tall. Pyramidal clusters of fragrant white or pink flowers blossom from summer through fall attracting butterflies and birds. Brown fruit appears after blossoms fall off. Grows well in sunny or partly shady locations.

Bridalwreath spirea vs. Baby's breath spirea: 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. Baby's breath spirea: 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. Baby's breath spirea: 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. Baby's breath spirea: 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. Baby's breath spirea: 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. Baby's breath spirea: 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..

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Key Facts About Baby's breath spirea

Attributes of Baby's breath spirea

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Shrub

Plant Height

1.5 m

Spread

2 m

Leaf Color

Green

Yellow

Flower Size

6 mm to 8 mm

Leaf type

Deciduous

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Scientific Classification of Baby's breath spirea

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Roses, elms, figs, and allies

Family

Rose

Genus

Spirea

Species

Baby's breath spirea (Spiraea thunbergii)

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Distribution Map of Baby's breath spirea

Baby's breath spirea is native to East Asia, where it thrives in temperate regions. Beyond its natural range, it has been introduced and cultivated in various parts of Europe and Asia. The plant's adaptability has allowed it to be grown in both its native and introduced ranges successfully.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the Baby's breath spirea

A Comprehensive Guide to Baby's breath spirea How to Grow and Care for Baby's breath spirea