ROSE FAMILY ROSACEAE 
MEADOW SWEET 
Spiraea salicifolia L. 
The Meadow Sweet or Queen of the Meadow is a shrub 
2-6 feet high, the tough yellowish brown stems of which are 
covered with fine hairs. It is found in moist places from New York 
to North Carolina and Miss- 
ouril, northwestward to Sas- 
katchewan, and blooms from 
June to August. It is not ex- 
tensively cultivated because 
other species, such as the Brid- 
al Wreath, Spiraea prunifolia 
Sieb. & Zucc., introduced from 
Japan, are preferred. 
The alternate leaves are 
firm, pointed at tip and base, 
and finely and sharply toothed. 
They are about 2-234 inches 
long. 
The flowers have a slight odor but are 
not fragrant; in this respect the name 
Meadow Sweet is somewhat misleading 
but it applies very well to the simple 
beauty of the plant. The short calyx is 
s-lobed and persists as the fruit matures. 
The 5 slightly curved and rounding petals are white, 
and 10-50 rosy stamens project from the flower to 
give it a feathery appearance. Five to 8 pistils are 
present and develop into small several-seeded pods. 
The Hardhack or Steeplebush, Spiraea tomentosa 
L., is sometimes found in low grounds in the northern 
part of the state. Its stems and lower surfaces of the 
ovate or oblong and toothed leaves are very woolly. 
The rose or rarely white flowers are in short racemes 
in a dense panicle, and the pods are also woolly. 
There were many flowers in my mother’s garden, 
Sword-leaved gladiolas, taller far than I, 
Sticky-leaved petunias, pink and purple flaring, 
Velvet-painted pansies smiling at the sky ; 
Scentless portulacas crowded down the borders, 
White and scarlet-petalled, rose and satin-gold, 
Clustered sweet alyssum, lacy-white and scented, 
Sprays of gray-green lavender to keep ’til you were old. 
In My Mother’s Garden—MARGARET WIDDEMER 
146 
