This native shrub, also known as Hardhack or Meadowsweet, offers year-round interest for the landscape, but its true glory arrives in mid-summer. That's when Spiraea tomentosa sends up dense, pyramid-shaped spikes of tiny, rosy-pink flowers—the "steeples" that give the plant its common name. These blooms are a magnet for a diverse array of pollinators, including the endangered Rusty Patched Bumblebee and various butterflies. The specific name tomentosa refers to the soft, woolly white hairs covering the stems and undersides of the leaves, adding a unique tactile element to the garden. Steeplebush is an ecological workhorse, particularly suited for those challenging moist or wet spots where other plants struggle. Growing up to four feet tall in full sun, its slow-spreading rhizomatous roots make it excellent for stabilizing stream banks or beautifying rain gardens. Beyond its summer blooms, it offers golden-yellow foliage in autumn and distinctive orange-red peeling bark that stands out against the winter snow. Historically, this astringent plant was used medicinally and for crafting brooms, connecting your garden to a rich tradition of utility and natural beauty. This local ecotype seed is of Hudson Valley wild origin and has been scaled for production on our farm in Accord, NY. PollinateHV is a collaboration between the Hudson Valley Seed Company and The Understory in support of threatened native pollinators. We worked with a team of expert botanists, seed collectors, nursery growers and farmers to produce local ecotype native seeds to support at-risk Hudson Valley pollinators. You can find more information about this project at pollinatehv.org/seed-work. Learn more about the Hudson Valley's threatened pollinators and find resources to install pollinator habitat at all scales at pollinatehv.org.
