Rosaceae: Spiraea lucida
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Family Name
Rosaceae
Common Name
Shining meadowsweet, Shining spirea, shiny leaf spirea
Description
Spiraea lucida is a perennial, deciduous shrub with a fibrous root system and sometimes short, woody rhizomes or stolons, often forming loose clumps. Mature plants are typically 0.5–1.5 meters tall. Stems are upright to arching, slender, and brown to reddish, with smooth bark and occasional fine hairs on young growth. Leaves are alternate, simple, and oblong to elliptic or lanceolate, 2–7 cm long and 1–3 cm wide, with serrated or doubly serrated margins. The upper surface is shiny, dark green, and glabrous, while the lower surface is paler and may be sparsely hairy or glabrous. Petioles are present and short, 2–5 mm long. Flowering occurs from June to August, with dense, flat-topped to slightly rounded corymbs 3–7 cm across, each bearing numerous small, white to pinkish, five-petaled flowers, 6 to 10 mm in diameter. The calyx has five small, triangular sepals, 1–2 mm long, green, free, and persistent. Petals are five, white to pale pink, obovate, 2–4 mm long and 1–2 mm wide, free and spreading. Each flower has 20–30 stamens with yellow anthers about 1 mm long. The pistil consists of five separate carpels, each with a slender style and capitate stigma. The fruit is an aggregate of five small, dry, brown follicles, each 3–5 mm long, that split open at maturity in late summer (August–September) to release several tiny seeds. Shining meadowsweet is native to South Dakota and can be found in the Black Hills, western prairies, open woodlands, stream banks, and rocky slopes, especially in well-drained, sandy or gravelly soils with full sun to partial shade.
Synonym: Spiraea betulifolia var. lucida
Horticulture Notes
Seed collection: Collect mature follicles in late summer; dry and extract seeds when the fruits split open.
Germination: Seeds require light for germination; no cold stratification usually needed, though a short period (30 days) may enhance germination.
Vegetative propagation: Propagated easily by softwood or hardwood cuttings and by division of clumps in spring or fall.
Soils: Prefers well-drained, sandy or gravelly soils; tolerates poor, dry soils but also grows in richer, moist soils.
Light: Thrives in full sun but tolerates partial shade.
Water: Moderately drought tolerant; prefers moderate moisture but does not tolerate prolonged waterlogging.
Additional Notes
Shining meadowsweet is valued horticulturally for its glossy leaves, dense clusters of delicate flowers, and ability to thrive in poor, dry soils—making it a good choice for naturalistic gardens, restoration projects, and erosion control on slopes. Ecologically, it provides nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, and its seeds are eaten by small birds. Its compact form and attractive foliage also make it popular in ornamental landscaping.