Bloomipedia
Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa)
Photo: Tom Norton via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Steeplebush

Spiraea tomentosa

Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa) is a shrub in the Rosaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly July–August across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Steeplebush is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 5 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in July–August.

31states where USDA records it
5Bloomipedia state lists include it
10,809U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

Quick look

Spiraea tomentosa, commonly known as steeplebush, meadowsweet, or hardhack, or eastern hardhack, is a flowering plant native to the eastern United States and Canada.

  • It belongs to the Rosaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 31 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island. NatureServe
  • In Massachusetts, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–August. iNaturalist
  • In Maine, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–August. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 4 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 1,561 research-grade sightings of it in Massachusetts, ranking #97 among the 188 flowers on our Massachusetts list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,303 research-grade sightings of it in Maine, ranking #48 among the 160 flowers on our Maine list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,071 research-grade sightings of it in New Hampshire, ranking #48 among the 157 flowers on our New Hampshire list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,399 records)
Bloom time in the 5 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
MassachusettsNativeJuly–August1,561
MaineNativeJuly–August1,303
New HampshireNativeJuly–August1,071
VermontNativeJuly–August1,027
Rhode IslandNativefew records (20)201

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 5 of our 5 states.
See each state
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Massachusetts. MESA list
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maine. Maine rare plant list
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Hampshire. NH Ncr 312
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: S5, secure in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Rhode Island. RI rare plants 2016
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: AL (S1), AR (S2), GA (S1), MO (S1), MS (SH), SC (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records steeplebush in 31 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

Massachusetts counties with USDA records: Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester.

Maine counties with USDA records: Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, Washington, York.

New Hampshire counties with USDA records: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Steeplebush a high shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.5 to 7.0 and winter lows down to -33 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
Medium
Moisture use
Low
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range
4.5 to 7.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
-33 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
110
Annual precipitation range
30 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth
14 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Low
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for SPTO2. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 470 counties across 27 states; the most are in Wisconsin (45), Pennsylvania (44), New York (37).

Other Spiraea on Bloomipedia (6): White meadowsweet, Rose spirea, Mountain spirea, Shinyleaf meadowsweet, Bridal veil spirea, Bridal wreath spirea.

More from the Rosaceae family (103 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Toyon, Thimbleberry, Wineberry, Black raspberry.

More Massachusetts flowers

Roses (genus Rosa) (Rosa)

Roses (genus Rosa)

Rosa

★ NY state flower🌷 Garden flower

🌼 Blooms in MA: May–July
Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora)

Multiflora rose

Rosa multiflora

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in MA: June
Black cherry (Prunus serotina)

Black cherry

Prunus serotina

Native

🌼 Blooms in MA: May–June

Sources