spirea

noun

spi·​rea spī-ˈrē-ə 

variants or spiraea

1

: any of a genus (Spiraea) of deciduous shrubs of the rose family with small usually white or pink flowers in dense racemes, corymbs, cymes, or panicles

2

: any of several garden plants resembling spireas

especially : a shrub (Astilbe japonica) of the saxifrage family

Examples of spirea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Japanese spirea can be grown as far south as Zone 8 or 9 in full or part sun and in well-draining soil. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 May 2025

Janney likes ‘Blue Kazoo’, a compact variety of spirea that grows only 2 feet tall and has blue foliage and white bloom; and ‘Goldflame,’ a medium-sized variety that grows 3 feet tall and has yellow-green foliage and rosy red flowers. —Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Apr. 2025

This trimmer worked smoothly cutting through softer growth on both yew and spirea shrubs but struggled with tougher woody parts. —Alice Knisley Matthias, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Jan. 2025

Bridal wreath spirea and Vanhoutte spirea shrubs have a fountainlike appearance. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Spiraea, from Latin, a plant, from Greek speiraia

First Known Use

1669, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for spirea

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret

Kids Definition

spirea

noun

spi·​rea

variants or spiraea

spī-ˈrē-ə 

: any of a genus of shrubs related to the roses and having small usually white or pink flowers in dense clusters