Spiraea salicifolia
Bridewort
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Spiraea genus in the family Rosaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Young leaves - cooked[5]. Rich in vitamin C[2].
- Plant part
- Leaves
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The roots have been used in the treatment of coughs and chest colds[9]. Immature seeds have been used in the treatment of diarrhoea with blood[9].
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Pectoral
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A soil stabilizer for river and lakeside banks[8]. Plants are frequently planted in hedges[4].
- Product or use
- Oil
Environment
- Range
- Europe to E. Asia. Naturalized in Wales and N. Britain[4].
- Habitat
- Wet boggy places in the mountains of N. Japan[10]. More or less naturalized in woods in Wales and N. England[4].
- 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
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
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[8]. Another report says that September is a good time to do this[3]. Division of suckers in early spring[8]. They can be planted out straight into their permanent positions.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Tolerates most soils[8], but prefers a good loamy soil, abundant moisture and full sunlight[3][8]. Prefers a moist lime-free soil[6], plants quickly become chlorotic on chalk soils[8]. A very cold hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°c[7]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[3]. A rampant suckering shrub, it quickly produces dense thickets[6]. It is apt to get thin and poor unless divided up fairly regularly and replanted in fairly good soil[1].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00