The Flora of China[] treats this species as a synonym of Spiraea dasyantha Bunge. The Flora of Japan[] accepts Spiraea nervosa Franch. & Sav., treating Spiraea dasyantha sensu auct as a synonym in Japan and Spiraea dasyantha Bunge as a distinct species in China[]

Common Name:

General Information

Spiraea nervosa is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 150cm tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a tea. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - China, Japan.

Habitat

Thickets and ravines; at elevations from 300 - 1,300 metres in W. Hupeh[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	1.50 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Spiraea nervosa is often killed back to ground level in harsh winters with periods of prolonged frosts - it will usually resprout from the base but will not flower that year[].
Tolerates most soils[], but prefers a good loamy soil, abundant moisture and full sunlight[, ].
Species in this genus generally hybridize freely with other members of this genus, and so seed cannot be relied upon to come true unless the plant has been grown in isolation from other species that are flowering at the same time[].

Edible Uses

The leaves are used as a tea[, ].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame if possible. It is likely to require stratification before it germinates, so stored seed should be sown in a cold frame as early in the year as you receive it. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a light sandy soil a frame.
Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, 15cm long, autumn in an outdoor frame[].