Russian spiraea (Spiraea media, Österr. Allg. Baumz. 1: 53 (1792))

Family: Rosaceae

Author: Schmidt

Bibliography: Österr. Allg. Baumz. 1: 53 (1792)

Year: 1792

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Spiraea

Vegetable: False

Observations: C. & SE. Europe to Russian Far East and N. China, Japan

Description

Russian spiraea, scientifically known as Spiraea media, is a deciduous shrub belonging to the Rosaceae family. This plant was first described in 1792 by the botanist Schmidt, as noted in the Austrian General Botanical Journal. Its natural habitat spans from Central and Southeastern Europe across to the Russian Far East, extending into Northern China and Japan.

Spiraea media is appreciated for its hardiness and ability to thrive in various climates. It often grows in wild, temperate regions, where it forms dense thickets and contributes to the native flora. This shrub typically reaches a height of 1 to 2 meters, displaying a rounded growth habit with slender, arching branches.

The foliage of the Russian spiraea consists of small, serrate leaves that shift in color through the seasons. During spring and early summer, the plant produces clusters of delicate, white to pale pink flowers that attract a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies. These blooms give way to small, dry fruits that persist into the autumn, providing a food source for birds and small mammals.

In horticulture, Spiraea media is valued for its ease of cultivation and minimal maintenance requirements. It performs well in full sun to partial shade and adapts to a range of soil types, although it prefers moist, well-drained conditions. This versatility makes Russian spiraea an excellent choice for ornamental gardening, landscape borders, and erosion control projects.

Overall, Russian spiraea’s wide geographical distribution and resilience make it a notable species within the Rosaceae family, both in the wild and in managed landscapes.

Common Names

Deu: karpaten-spierstrauch, karpaten-spierstrauch, mittlerer s.
Dan: orientalsk spiræa
Eng: russian spiraea
Fra: spirée
Pol: tawula srednia
Lav: vidēj
Swe: fransspirea, mellanspirea
Cym: erwain rwsia
En: Russian spiraea
Zh: Ou ya xiu xian ju
Da: Orientalsk spiræa
Fr: Spirée
De: Karpaten-Spierstrauch, Karpaten-Spierstrauch, Mittlerer S.
Lv: Vidēj
Pl: Tawula srednia
Sv: Fransspirea, Mellanspirea
Cy: Erwain Rwsia

Synonyms

• Spiraea chamaedryfolia var. media ((Schmidt) Pursh)
• Spiraea media var. typica (Buia)

Distribution

• Altay (native)
• Amur (native)
• Austria (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• Chita (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Inner Mongolia (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Japan (native)
• Kamchatka (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Korea (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Kuril Is. (native)
• Magadan (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Poland (native)
• Primorye (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sakhalin (native)
• Tuva (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Yakutskiya (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Belarus (introduced)
• Central European Rus (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jun 30, 2020 by Karin Karin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 3, 2021 by Lynda Acosta (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 2, 2020 by Pam Homan (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 26, 2022 by William Coville (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 27, 2019 by Justine G. (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Nov 21, 2007 by EOL − Chicago Botanic Garden 2007 (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jun 4, 2021 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 26, 2022 by William Coville (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jun 4, 2021 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 21, 2007 by EOL − Chicago Botanic Garden 2007 (cc-by-nc-sa)

Other

Taken Nov 21, 2007 by EOL − Chicago Botanic Garden 2007 (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Nov 21, 2007 by EOL − Chicago Botanic Garden 2007 (cc-by-nc-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)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3027231)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:742368-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Spiraea media Schmidt)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Shrub

Growth