Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Rosids: Fabids: Rosales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Spiraea japonica
FAMILY
Rosaceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
Read more about Japanese Spiraea at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
INCLUDING
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Spiraea japonica var. fortunei
FAMILY
Rosaceae
INCLUDING Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Spiraea japonica var. fortunei
SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America
Spiraea japonica
SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 097-15-003:
Spiraea japonica FAMILY Rosaceae
COMMON NAME:
Japanese Spiraea
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
)
JK Marlow jkm200517_4961
May Transylvania County NC
DuPont State Forest
)
JK Marlow jkm200517_4962
May Transylvania County NC
DuPont State Forest
)
JK Marlow jkm200517_4963
May Transylvania County NC
DuPont State Forest
)
JK Marlow jkm200517_4992
May Transylvania County NC
DuPont State Forest
)
JK Marlow jkm200625_6025
June Transylvania County NC
DuPont State Forest
Lvs lance-shaped, sharply toothed, tapered to the tip, 3-6" long, 1-2" wide, per Wildflowers of Tennessee (Carman, 2005).
)
JK Marlow jkm200625_6075
June Transylvania County NC
DuPont State Forest
Petals usually pink, sometimes white, per Flora of China.
)
JK Marlow jkm200625_6175
June Transylvania County NC
DuPont State Forest
)
JK Marlow jkm200625_6177
June Transylvania County NC
DuPont State Forest
)
JK Marlow jkm090707_097
July Avery County NC
Roadside
Inflorescence a compound corymb, flat-topped or rounded, broader than long, per Weakley's Flora.
)
JK Marlow jkm190726_0194
July Transylvania County NC
DuPont State Forest
)
JK Marlow jkm190726_0195
July Transylvania County NC
DuPont State Forest
Petals ovate to orbicular, apex obtuse. Stamens longer than petals, per Flora of China.
)
JK Marlow jkm190726_0196
July Transylvania County NC
DuPont State Forest
Tiny star-shaped clusters of 5 smooth, lustrous tan to brown capsules, per A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests (Miller, Chambliss, & Lowenstein, 2010).
)
JK Marlow jkm210807_2566
August Transylvania County NC
DuPont State Forest
)
JK Marlow jkm210807_2567
August Transylvania County NC
DuPont State Forest
Leaves lighter green below. Midvein whitish-green, lateral veins curved, per A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests (Miller, Chambliss, & Lowenstein, 2010).
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Spiraea japonica
FAMILY
Rosaceae
INCLUDING
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Spiraea japonica var. fortunei
FAMILY
Rosaceae
INCLUDING
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Spiraea japonica var. fortunei
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Flora of North America
Spiraea japonica
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 097-15-003:
Spiraea japonica
FAMILY
Rosaceae
1454
Shrub
Perennial
Habitat: Roadsides, woodland borders, old home-sites, bogs, alluvial forests, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: Japan & China
Common in NC Mountains, uncommon in Mountains of GA & SC (rare elsewhere in GA-NC-SC)
Click here to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
Click here to see a map showing all occurrences known to SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria. (Zoom in to see more detail.)
This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council, 2012
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Forest Health Assessment & Applied Sciences Team: New Invaders of the Northeast
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2006
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2013
- NC Department of Transportation
- SC Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2014
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2009
- US Fish & Wildlife Service
- US Forest Service Southern Research Station
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 2014
LEAVES:
Deciduous
Simple
Alternate
Petioles 3-6mm long
FLOWER:
Spring/Summer
Pink
Bisexual
Radially symmetrical
5 united sepals
5 petals
15-20 stamens
Inflorescence a compound corymb, flat-topped or rounded
FRUIT:
Summer
Aggregate of 5 follicles
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007) p151
- A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests (Miller, Chambliss, & Lowenstein, 2010) p044
- Invasive Exotic Plants of North Carolina (Smith, 2008) p074
- New Invaders of the Northeast and Northcentral US (Rawlins et al., 2018) p043
- Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of the Southeast (Foote & Jones, 1989) p071
- Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Georgia (Chafin, 2007) p375
- Wildflowers of Tennessee (Carman, 2005) p123
- Woody Plants of the Blue Ridge (Lance) p33
- Woody Plants of the Southeastern US: A Winter Guide (Lance, 2004) p338