Practical
Plants

Spiraea canescens

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Spiraea
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
3 m
Spread
2 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Material uses

Wood - fairly hard, close and even grained. Used for light walking sticks[2][3].

Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China to the Himalayas.
Habitat
Scrub and hedges, 1500 - 3000 metres[4]. Open hillsides above 2100 metres in Uttar Pradesh[3]. Riverbanks, slope thickets and dry fields, 3000-4000 metres in western China[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame if possible. It is likely to require stratification before it germinates, so stored seed should be sown in a cold frame as early in the year as you receive it. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a light sandy soil a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, 15cm long, October/November in an outdoor frame[5]. Another report says that September is a good time to do this[1]. Division of suckers in early spring[5]. They can be planted out straight into their permanent positions.

Cultivation

Tolerates most soils[5], but prefers a good loamy soil, abundant moisture and full sunlight[1][5]. Hardy to about -25°c[4]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[1].

References

  1. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1972-00-00

    ↩

  3. Gupta. B. L. Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Forest Research Institute Press 1945-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩1↩2

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩

Edit this page