Spiraea canescens aka Himalayan Spiraea

Spiraea canescens is a shrub in the rose family. It is deciduous: it loses its leaves for winter. Its names include Himalayan spiraea and long-sprayed meadowsweet. Kew lists its native range as the Himalaya, southeastern Tibet, and northern Myanmar. Plants For A Future also lists Bhutan and Nepal. Its list includes northern India and parts of China too. It grows in temperate regions. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

This shrub grows about 10 feet [3 metres] tall. Its spread reaches about 6.6 feet [2 metres]. In the wild, it grows in scrub and hedges. It also grows on open hillsides and beside rivers. Other sites include thickets on slopes and dry fields. These sites lie about 4,900–13,100 feet [1,500–4,000 metres] above sea level. Its range takes in Himalayan slopes. It also includes high sites in western China.

Plants For A Future gives July to August as the bloom time. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects carry pollen between the flowers. Seeds ripen from September to October. The species can cross freely with others in its genus. Bear this in mind when growing seeds near other spiraeas. The supplied species evidence gives no flower colour. It does not describe the shape of the fruit.

In gardens, this shrub prefers a site in full sun. It also accepts light shade, including sites near woods. It tolerates sand, loam, and clay but prefers good loam. Keep the soil moist and give it plenty of water. It accepts mildly acid soil, neutral soil, and mildly alkaline soil. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 4–8. It reports cold tolerance near −13°F [−25°C]. Woodland edges suit it, in sun or dappled shade. The evidence names no pests or diseases for this species.

Its wood has a close, even grain and is fairly hard. People make light walking sticks from it. Plants For A Future lists no known food uses. It lists no known medicinal uses either. It reports no known hazards, but this does not prove it is safe to eat. The source lists no weed potential. To grow new plants, it records summer cuttings from partly ripened wood. It also records autumn cuttings from the current season’s mature growth.