Spiraea tomentosa.
Steeplebush, also known as Hardhack, is a perennial wildflower native to the midwestern and eastern United States where it can often be found growing in wet meadows and pastures, bogs, marshes, and alongside lakeshores.
Plant grows to about 4 feet in height and produces tiny pink flowers on narrow, steeple-shaped spikes that bloom from July through September.
Attracts numerous species of bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators.
Steeplebush
Growth Chart
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8 Light Requirement: Full to partial sun Soil Type: Average, acidic, moist Sow Depth: Surface Plant Spacing: 12 to 36 inches Germination Note: Cold stratification required Stratification Time: 60 days Bloom Time: July through September Growing Tips
Direct sow in late fall by lightly pressing the seeds into the soil's surface. For spring planting, mix seeds with moist sand and store in the refrigerator for 60 days (cold stratification) before sowing.
A Note on Cold Stratification
These seeds require cold, moist stratification. To naturally stratify the seeds, plant outdoors late fall on a weed-free site and allow seeds to overwinter.
To artificially stratify the seeds, place the seeds and a moist medium (such as a damp paper towel, coffee filter, sand, or vermiculite) in a labeled, sealed plastic bag and store in a refrigerator (33-40°F) for the amount of time noted on the growth chart before sowing.