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Japanese spirea and Douglas spirea: growing conditions and wildlife benefits.

COMMON CHOICE Japanese spirea Spiraea japonica	NATIVE ALTERNATIVE Douglas spirea Spiraea douglasii
	GO NATIVE
Native range
Japan and China	W. Canada to W. U.S.A.See state guides
Sunlight
Full sun to part shade	Full sun
Soil moisture
Average moisture; well-drained soil	Moist to wet / Average moisture
Mature height
4–6 ft	3–7 ft
Mature spread
4–7 ft	Spreading thickets
USDA hardiness zones
3–8	Cold hardy to USDA zone 5; upper zone not specified.
Season of interest
Spring–summer	Pink summer flowers
Garden & wildlife value
Flowers attract butterflies.	Dense native flower clusters bring summer color to a moist hedge or rain garden.
Growing notes
A deciduous shrub with many smaller cultivars. Can spread by seed beyond garden beds.	Suckers freely; give this deciduous shrub space and reliably moist soil.
Growing information	Growing information Native range: Kew

Sizes describe the species; individual cultivars can differ.