Overview & Description

The False Ash Leaf Spirea (Sorbaria sorbifolia) is a hardy, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a dense, upright spreading habit. It forms colonies through suckering, often creating thickets. Its coarse texture comes from large, compound leaves (8-12 inches long) composed of 13-25 sharply serrated, lance-shaped leaflets that resemble ferns or mountain ash. In summer, it produces showy, terminal plumes 4-10 inches long, densely packed with tiny white flowers. Good light may bring reddish autumn tones, though fall color is generally not showy.

Growth & Size

This fast-growing shrub typically reaches 5 to 8 feet in height and 5 to 8 feet in width, occasionally reaching 10 feet.

Additional Notes

It blooms in mid-summer, with flowers emerging on new growth. Exceptionally hardy to Zone 2 and adaptable, it thrives in full sun to partial shade and tolerates salt and a range of moist, well-drained soils, including clay. Suckers should be removed to control spread. An excellent choice for challenging sites, erosion control, naturalized areas, and borders where resilience and late-season blooms are desired.