The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Spiraea japonica

Etymology

japonica: of Japan

Common Name(s)

Japanese spiraea

Family

Rosaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Habitat

Terrestrial.

Features

A semi-deciduous shrub growing to 1.5 m tall, forming small thickets. Erect stems which are finely striated, downy and red when young, and reddish brown and smooth on older stems. The leaves are spreading or slightly ascending. 4-10cm long and 1-3 cm wide, and are lance-shaped to narrow-elliptical with irregular shallow serrations. The network of veins show distinctly on the pale green underside. The flower heads are dense hairy and spreading with numerous small (c. 2mm diam.) rose red flowers in a multi-stemmed head. Flowering takes place Nov-Mar. Seeds are fine and numerous.

Flowering

November, December, January, February, March

Flower Colours

Red / Pink

Year Naturalised

1975

Origin

Japan, China

This page last updated on 18 Jan 2010