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 north of Mexico, vol. 9 (2014)
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).
)
JK Marlow jkm230927_5626
September Pickens County SC
Laurel Fork Heritage Preserve
)
JK Marlow jkm230927_5628
September Pickens County SC
Laurel Fork Heritage Preserve
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 north of Mexico, vol. 9
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.
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
Radially symmetrical
5 united sepals
5 petals
15-20 stamens
Bisexual
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
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