Japanese spiraea
(Spiraea japonica)
This species is Introduced in the United States
Appearance
Spiraea japonica is a small, deciduous shrub up to 6 ft. (1.8 m) tall that invades a variety of habitats throughout the eastern United States.
Foliage
The alternate leaves are oval to lance-shaped, toothed along the margins, and 1-3 in. (2.5-7.6 cm) long.
Flowers
In late spring white to pink flowers occur in clusters at the tips of branches.
Fruit
Fruits are capsules that are smooth and glabrous. Seeds are 0.09-0.1 in. (2.2-2.4 mm) long.
Ecological Threat
Spiraea japonica invades a variety of habitats including fields, forests, stream banks, and many disturbed areas. Once established, it can form dense stands that displace native vegetation and close open areas. It is native to eastern Asia and was first introduced into the United States around 1879 as an ornamental.
Citations
Rawlins, K.A., R.L. Winston, C.T. Bargeron, D.J. Moorhead, and R. Carroll. 2018. New Invaders of the Northeast and Northcentral United States. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Assessment and Applied Sciences Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. FHTET-2017-04. Retrieved from https://bugwoodcloud.org/resource/pdf/FHTET-2017-04_New%20Invaders_NE.pdf
Resources
- Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual - SE-EPPC
- Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas - Plant Conservation Alliance
- Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service
- Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas - National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Selected Images
Maps
EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
State Lists - This map identifies those states that have this species on their invasive species list or law.
Invasive Listing Sources
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 1994.
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council - Category 2
- Indiana Invasive Species Council - Invasive Plant List
- Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
- John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council - Significant Threat
- Maine Invasive Plants
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources Policy: Restriction on Planting Exotic Invasive Plants
- National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic Exotic Plant Management Team Invasive Plant List
- National Park Service, National Capital Region Exotic Plant Management Team Invasive Plant List
- New Invaders of the Northeast and Northcentral
- New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team 2017 Invasive Species List
- Non-Native Invasive Plants of Arlington County, Virginia
- Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
- Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Invasive Plants
- Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas
- Reichard, Sarah. 1994. Assessing the potential of invasiveness in woody plants introduced in North America. University of Washington Ph.D. dissertation.
- South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council
- Virginia Invasive Plant Species List
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
Taxonomic Rank
| Domain: Eukarya |
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Phylum: Magnoliophyta |
| Class: Magnoliopsida |
| Superorder: Rosanae |
| Order: Rosales |
| Family: Rosaceae |
| Subfamily: Amygdaloideae |
| Tribe: Spiraeeae |
| Genus: Spiraea |
| Spiraea japonica |
References
Common Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Scientific Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.