Bridewort is a shrub that grows in wet places and bears upright clusters of pink flowers in summer. It is native to Eurasia but now grows wild in parts of the eastern United States.
Appearance
Growth form
This is usually about 3–6 ft (1–2 m) tall and can spread into a thicket as new shoots grow from its roots.
Leaves
Each leaf has a single narrow, pointed blade with toothed edges and is usually 1–3 in (2.5–7.5 cm) long.
Flowers
Many small pink to whitish flowers crowd into upright about 4–5 in (10–13 cm) long.
Flowering time
In U.S. gardens, it flowers in summer.
Fruit
The dry fruits split along one side and release winged seeds.
Japanese spirea (Spiraea japonica) usually has rounded, flat-topped flower clusters. Bridewort has taller, narrow flower panicles at the ends of new shoots.
Why they get mixed up · Both are deciduous spireas with clusters of small pink flowers.
False spirea (Sorbaria sorbifolia) has large leaves made of 13–25 leaflets and usually bears white flowers. Bridewort has one narrow blade per leaf and pink to whitish flowers.
Why they get mixed up · Both can form colonies and carry upright summer flower clusters.
Where it lives
Typical habitats
streambanks
wet meadows
woodland edges
Range
In the United States, plants have been reported especially from Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Virginia, and Vermont.
Preferred conditions
It prefers full sun and moist, loamy soil, though it accepts a range of soil textures.
Growing it
Propagation
It can be propagated by seed, stem cuttings, or division, and established plants also send up new shoots from their roots.
Name and classification
About the name
Bridewort is also called willowleaf meadowsweet.
Conservation
IUCN Red List
NENot Evaluated·Not yet assessed
Culture and stories
Culture and stories
The names willow-leaved meadowsweet and willowleaf spirea point to its long, narrow leaves.
Its dense growth from the roots has also been used to stabilize banks beside water.