False spiraea (Sorbaria sorbifolia, P.F.A.Ascherson, Fl. Brandenburg 1: 177 (1860))

Family: Rosaceae

Author: (L.) A.Braun

Bibliography: P.F.A.Ascherson, Fl. Brandenburg 1: 177 (1860)

Year: 1860

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Sorbaria

Vegetable: False

Observations: Siberia to Russian Far East and Inner Mongolia

Description

False spiraea, scientifically known as Sorbaria sorbifolia, is a captivating plant that holds a distinguished place within the family Rosaceae. This deciduous shrub, often admired for its showy foliage and delicate floral displays, traces its botanical description back to P.F.A. Ascherson’s seminal work in the “Flora of Brandenburg” published in 1860.

Native to a vast geographical range spanning from Siberia to the Russian Far East and extending into Inner Mongolia, Sorbaria sorbifolia demonstrates a robust adaptability to different climates and soils. Its natural habitat encompasses diverse environments, contributing to its resilience and popularity in various garden settings.

The plant is notable for its finely pinnate leaves, which resemble those of the mountain ash, a feature that likely inspired its common name, False spiraea. These leaves emerge with a fresh, light green hue in spring, transitioning to darker green as the season progresses, and finally offering a spectacle of yellow to orange shades in autumn, adding year-round interest to gardens.

In mid to late summer, the shrub produces an impressive array of small, white, and densely clustered flowers, which are not only aesthetically pleasing but also attract a variety of pollinators. The inflorescences are borne on erect, branching stems, creating a frothy, cloud-like effect that enhances its ornamental appeal.

The false spiraea grows vigorously, often forming expansive thickets, which makes it an excellent choice for ground cover, erosion control, or as a natural screening plant. Despite its aggressive spread, it is cherished in cultivated landscapes for its hardiness and minimal maintenance requirements.

Sorbaria sorbifolia has successfully integrated into garden designs worldwide, appreciated not only for its beauty and durability but also for its ecological contributions. By providing habitat and food resources for insects and other pollinators, it plays a role in supporting local biodiversity.

The continued interest in false spiraea among horticulturists and gardeners alike ensures that it remains a relevant and valued component of botanical collections and garden landscapes, celebrating its ornamental and ecological virtues.

Common Names

Dan: almindelig tusindtop, tusindtop
Deu: ebereschen-fiederspiere, fieder-spierstrauch, gewöhnliche fiederspiere
Eng: false spiraea, sorbaria, ash-leaved spiraea, giant false spiraea, ural false spiraea
Fra: sorbaire à feuilles de sorbier, spirée à feuilles de sorbier, sorbaire, sorbaria à feuilles de sorbier, sorbarie à feuilles de sorbier
Pol: tawlina jarzębolistna
Est: harilik pihlenelas
Lav: pīl
Nob: rognspirea
Nno: rognspirea
Swe: rönnspirea, viitapihlaja-angervo
Ces: tavolníkovec jarabinolistý, tavolníkovec jeřábolistý
Fin: viitapihlaja-angervo
Hun: északi tollasgyöngyvessző
Lit: šermukšnialapė lanksvūnė
Nld: sorbaria, lijsterbesspirea
Sme: skáhpespirea
Cym: sorbaria
Lat: sorbaria
En: False spiraea, Sorbaria, Ural false spiraea, Ash-leaved spiraea, Giant false spiraea, False-spiraea
Cs: Tavolníkovec jarabinolistý, Tavolníkovec jeřábolistý
Da: Almindelig tusindtop, Tusindtop
Nl: Sorbaria, Lijsterbesspirea
Et: Harilik pihlenelas
Fi: Viitapihlaja-angervo
Fr: Sorbaire à feuilles de Sorbier, Spirée à feuilles de Sorbier, Sorbaire, Sorbaria à feuilles de sorbier, Sorbarie à feuilles de sorbier
De: Ebereschen-Fiederspiere, Fieder-Spierstrauch, Gewöhnliche Fiederspiere, Ebereschen Fiederspiere, Ebereschenspiere, Sibirische Fiederspiere
Hu: Északi tollasgyöngyvessző
It: Sorbaria, Spirea con foglie di sorbo
La: Sorbaria
Lv: Pīl
Lt: Šermukšnialapė lanksvūnė
Se: Skáhpespirea
Nb: Rognspirea
Nn: Rognspirea
Pl: Tawlina jarzębolistna
Sv: Rönnspirea, Viitapihlaja-angervo
Cy: Sorbaria

Synonyms

• Basilima sorbifolia ((L.) Raf.)
• Sorbaria sorbifolia var. typica (C.K.Schneid.)
• Schizonotus sorbifolius ((L.) Lindl. ex Steud.)

Distribution

• Amur (native)
• Chita (native)
• Inner Mongolia (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Japan (native)
• Kamchatka (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Korea (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Magadan (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• Primorye (native)
• Sakhalin (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Yakutskiya (native)
• Alberta (introduced)
• Austria (introduced)
• Belgium (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• Central European Rus (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• East European Russia (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Germany (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Iowa (introduced)
• Kirgizstan (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Manitoba (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• New Brunswick (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• Nova Scotia (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Poland (introduced)
• Prince Edward I. (introduced)
• Québec (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• Romania (introduced)
• Saskatchewan (introduced)
• South European Russi (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Uzbekistan (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Yukon (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jun 20, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 20, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 20, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 20, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 20, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Aug 30, 2021 by Pieter Verbrugghe (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 19, 2020 by seelen janine (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 20, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 20, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 21, 2020 by jack woods (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jul 11, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 31, 2021 by manuseitz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 18, 2021 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 6, 2021 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 31, 2021 by manuseitz (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jul 31, 2021 by manuseitz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 22, 2021 by manuseitz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 25, 2022 by Caw Vus (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 18, 2022 by Stephanie M (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 12, 2022 by manuseitz (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jun 29, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 1, 2019 by Man Mar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 29, 2021 by Didier Ploquin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 7, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 27, 2022 by Loic Girard (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Mar 15, 2021 by Heather Hoaglund-Biron (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 10, 2020 by Hendrik Toepper (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 4, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 19, 2021 by manuseitz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 31, 2022 by Nella (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3012089)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1034036-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Sorbaria sorbifolia (L.) A.Braun)

Specifications

Growth habit: Shrub

Growth

Ph maximum: 6.5

Ph minimum: 5.5

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Soil nutriments: 4