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Japanese spirea and Rubber rabbitbrush: growing conditions and wildlife benefits.
COMMON CHOICE Japanese spirea Spiraea japonica	NATIVE ALTERNATIVE Rubber rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa
Milada · CC-BY-SA 2.0	GO NATIVE Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
Native range
Japan and China	North America; see the linked native-range checklist.See state guides
Sunlight
Full sun to part shade	Full sun
Soil moisture
Average moisture; well-drained soil	Dry soil
Mature height
4–6 ft	Up to 7 ft
Mature spread
4–7 ft	Rounded shrub
USDA hardiness zones
3–8	Cold hardy to USDA zone 3; upper zone not specified.
Season of interest
Spring–summer	Golden flowers & gray-green foliage
Garden & wildlife value
Flowers attract butterflies.	This native dryland shrub supplies flowers and structure with little supplemental water.
Growing notes
A deciduous shrub with many smaller cultivars. Can spread by seed beyond garden beds.	Overwatering can cause weak, floppy growth; use a sunny, well-drained site.
Growing information	Growing information Native range: Kew

Sizes describe the species; individual cultivars can differ.

Japanese spirea