Spiraea douglasii
Douglas spiraea
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Spiraea douglasii (Douglas spiraea) is a native California shrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by key differences are size, hairiness, and leaf shape/size.
Douglas spiraea is a California native shrub found in northern coastal California, Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, northern Sierra Nevada, and western Modoc Plateau in moist areas and conifer forests at elevations below 2,060 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces delicate pink to rose flowers in compact clusters. Growing with stems 1 to 2 meters tall and slightly woolly in texture, it develops a robust and spreading form. Its leaves are generally oblong to elliptic, measuring 3 to 9 centimeters long with short petioles less than 10 millimeters in length. The plant's soft pink blossoms and tendency to grow in moist woodland settings make it a distinctive feature of western mountain landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; key differences are size, hairiness, and leaf shape/size
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist areas, conifer forest
Elevation: < 2060 m
California counties: Butte, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Plumas, Del Norte, Trinity, Tehama, Shasta, Mendocino, Lake, Lassen, Nevada, Modoc, Kern, Sierra, Riverside, Mariposa
Outside California: to British Columbia
Bloom period
Spiraea douglasii blooms Jun-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Lagerstroemia: Spiraea has tiny simple flowers in clusters; crape myrtle has large crinkled individual flowers with clawed petals.; vs Ageratina: Spiraea has pink 5-petaled flowers; snakeroot has white brush-like composite flower heads.; vs Rosa: Spiraea has tiny flowers in dense clusters splitting into dry pods; roses have large individual flowers with fleshy hips.; vs Hylotelephium: Spiraea has woody stems and toothed leaves; stonecrop has succulent leaves and stems.; vs Salix: Spiraea has pink flower clusters with petals; willows have petal-less catkins.
Frequently asked questions
Is Spiraea douglasii native to California?
Yes. Spiraea douglasii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Spiraea douglasii bloom?
Spiraea douglasii blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Spiraea douglasii grow?
Spiraea douglasii occurs in Butte, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Plumas, Del Norte, Trinity, Tehama, Shasta and other counties, at elevations of < 2060 m.
What plant family does Spiraea douglasii belong to?
Spiraea douglasii is in the Rosaceae family, genus Spiraea.
What habitat does Spiraea douglasii grow in?
Spiraea douglasii grows in Moist areas, conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.