Plant DetailShow Menu

Spiraea trilobata

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
spy-REE-ah try-lo-BAY-tuh
Description

Spiraea trilobata, or Threelobe Spiraea, is a spiraea cultivar. It is a dense, upright, compact deciduous shrub that typically grows to 3-4' tall with a slightly larger width. This cultivar is noted for its numerous white flowers displayed in crowded umbels in spring. The flowers, which are attractive to butterflies, are offset by three-lobed, coarsely-toothed, blue-green foliage. You can remove faded flower clusters to promote additional bloom and, once flowering has ceased for the season, you can prune the plant. Because the plant has a dense, compact habit, slender with spreading branches, selective pruning may be all that is necessary.

Threelobe Spiraea is easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. It can tolerate a wide range of soils, including sandy sites, but prefers a good loamy soil. It also tolerates drought. In its native habitat, it is typically found in thickets or ravines, sunny slopes, and along roadsides.

Insects, Diseases, and other Plant Problems:

Susceptible to many of the diseases and insects that attack other members of the rose family, including leaf spots, fireblight, powdery mildew, rots, aphids, leaf roller and scale.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Fairy Queen
  • Swan Lake
Fairy Queen, Swan Lake
Tags:
#deciduous#drought tolerant#shrub#flowering shrub#deer resistant#butterfly friendly#hedge
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Fairy Queen
  • Swan Lake
Fairy Queen, Swan Lake
Tags:
#deciduous#drought tolerant#shrub#flowering shrub#deer resistant#butterfly friendly#hedge
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Spiraea
    Species:
    trilobata
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The leaves have been used as a tea substitute.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Central and Eastern Asia
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts butterflies
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    tolerates deer
    Dimensions:
    Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Spreading
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    White flowers on 0.7 to 1.5 inch umbels bloom in May.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Glaucous bluish-green leaves 1/2 to 1 inch long.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Design Feature:
    Barrier
    Border
    Hedge
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought