{"product_id":"spiraea-tomentosa-steeplebush","title":"Spiraea tomentosa (Steeplebush)","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn increasingly uncommon species in the wild due to wetland loss and drainage, steeplebush's astringent, densely-haired foliage confers confirmed deer resistance while serving as a documented larval host for the Spring and Summer Azure butterflies alongside three specifically named moth species - real ecological weight for a shrub that's earned the nickname \"hardhack\" for its stubborn resilience.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecies Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSpiraea tomentosa, commonly called steeplebush or hardhack, is a suckering deciduous shrub native to wet meadows, boggy fields, marshes, and lake margins across the eastern United States and Canada, growing 2 to 4 feet tall. Distinctive spire-like clusters of pink to rose-purple flowers bloom from top to bottom July through September, above woolly-textured leaves that turn reddish-gold in fall.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApplication\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHigh-quality wetland restoration - an uncommon species worth reintroducing where lost\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarval host habitat for the Spring and Summer Azure butterflies and three named moths\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeer-pressured wet meadow and pond-margin plantings\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRain garden, shoreline, and naturalized swale plantings\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowing Conditions \/ Specification Data\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full Sun to Part Shade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\/Moisture Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moist to wet, acidic soils; tolerates a wide range of soil conditions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shrub\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2-4 ft.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall Color:\u003c\/strong\u003e Red\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Color \/ Period:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pink; July-September\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWetland Indicator Status:\u003c\/strong\u003e NI (No Indicator) - see flags\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative Range:\u003c\/strong\u003e Northeast\/Mid-Atlantic (full list)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHydrology:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mesic-Moist\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRoot Depth:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate (12-24 in.)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSalinity Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrought Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlood Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate - Often found in wet meadows and bog margins in addition to drier sites; tolerates periodically wet soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShade Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Intermediate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Habit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Multi-stemmed\/Thicket-forming - suckering\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Hardiness Zones:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3-7\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDeer Resistance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes (Rarely Damaged)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePollinator Value:\u003c\/strong\u003e Larval host, supports butterflies, supports moths\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlanting Guidance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIMPORTANT:\u003c\/strong\u003e uncommon in the wild and found in high-quality wetland habitats, with populations declining due to urban sprawl, drainage projects, and wetland destruction - worth conservation awareness and reintroduction where appropriate. Flowers on new wood, so prune in late winter or very early spring if needed.\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Pinelands Nursery","offers":[{"title":"32 Cell Tubeling","offer_id":48941157384263,"sku":"SPI-TOM 32TBL","price":112.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"72 Cell Tubeling","offer_id":48941157417031,"sku":"SPI-TOM 72TBL","price":158.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#1 Container","offer_id":48941157449799,"sku":"SPI-TOM #1","price":13.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#5 Container","offer_id":48941157482567,"sku":"SPI-TOM #5","price":65.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0675\/1649\/7991\/files\/Screenshot2026-10-01102830.png?v=1790865820","url":"https:\/\/www.pinelandsnursery.com\/products\/spiraea-tomentosa-steeplebush","provider":"Pinelands Nursery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}