Hardhack facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hardhack |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Spiraea
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| Species: |
douglasii
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The Spiraea douglasii is a pretty flowering plant. It belongs to the rose family. This plant grows naturally in western North America. People call it by many names, like hardhack, Douglas' spirea, or steeplebush.
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What is Spiraea Douglasii?
This plant is a fuzzy shrub that can grow quite tall, usually 1 to 2 meters (about 3 to 6 feet). It grows from underground stems called rhizomes. These rhizomes help it form thick groups of plants, especially near rivers. In early summer, you can see large groups of small, pink flowers that look like tall spires. Later, these flowers turn dark but stay on the plant. Its leaves have small teeth near their ends. The underside of the leaves is whitish and has clear lines (veins).
Where Does It Grow?
Spiraea douglasii is found all over western North America. You can see it from Alaska down through southwestern Canada and the Pacific Northwest. It loves wet places, especially near water. You'll often find it in swamps, along streambanks, in bogs, and on mudflats. It grows alongside other swamp plants like sedges, horsetails, and wild blueberries.
Why Is It a Problem in Europe?
Even though it's native to North America, Spiraea douglasii was brought to Europe. In some European countries, like Belgium, Germany, and Poland, it's now considered an invasive plant. This means it spreads very quickly and takes over areas where other plants used to grow. When it colonizes places like bogs, it pushes out the native plants. This can reduce the number of different types of plants (biodiversity) in those areas.
Uses of Spiraea Douglasii
Long ago, Native American people found many uses for S. douglasii. They used its strong stems to make brooms. They also used it to hang seafood while cooking. Today, people often plant Spiraea douglasii in their gardens. It's a popular ornamental plant because of its beautiful flowers. It grows best in sunny spots that stay moist.
Images for kids
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Spiraea douglasii in the morning.jpg
Part of a field in Bend, Oregon
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Spiraea douglasii RF.jpg
A beautiful Canadian flower
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Spiraeadouglasii.jpg
A close-up view from California
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Douglas' Spiraea (15373908416).jpg
This plant blooms in late summer
See also
In Spanish: Spiraea douglasii para niños
