Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Spiraea alba

Meadowsweet · Pale Bridewort · White Meadowsweet

Family RosaceaeGenus Spiraea

A dense cone of small white flowers with long protruding stamens and pink-brown centers, opening from green buds.
FlowerJames K. LindseyCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
shrubPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, ShrubPLANTS Database
Height
3-4 ft0.9-1.2 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
3-4 ft0.9-1.2 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Pink, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Canada, lower 48 states, St. Pierre and MiquelonPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
3-7Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Moist, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: LowPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension.

Worth knowing

  • White meadowsweet is a host plant for caterpillars of the spring azure butterfly, and deer tend to leave it alone. Its hollow, upright stems were once used as pipe stems. Wikipedia: Spiraea alba

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 19, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 18, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

100% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Spiraea p. 217Public domain
Show the original text
Spiraea (Rosaceae). Some required light. S. alba germ. 70D(100% in 2nd w) and 40-70(100%) using seed DS •6 m at 70. Fresh seed germ. 70-40-70(a few) and 40-70(100%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Spiraea p. 217. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 24, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 23, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

100% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Spiraea p. 217Public domain
Show the original text
Spiraea (Rosaceae). Some required light. S. alba germ. 70D(100% in 2nd w) and 40-70(100%) using seed DS 6 m at 70. Fresh seed germ. 70-40-70(a few) and 40-70(100%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Spiraea p. 217. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

100% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Spiraea p. 217Public domain
Show the original text
Spiraea (Rosaceae). Some required light. S. alba germ. 70D(100% in 2nd w) and 40-70(100%) using seed DS 6 m at 70. Fresh seed germ. 70-40-70(a few) and 40-70(100%).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Spiraea p. 217. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

Add to My Garden

View species page