Spiraea betulifolia White Spirea is an essential native shrub in the western United States, found in areas of moderate to low precipitation. Its deciduous leaves can even serve as a substitute for tea! Typically reaching one to three feet in height, it provides soil stabilization after disturbance and is highly resistant to fire. However, it has a poor cover value for wildlife due to its small size. White Spirea thrives in communities such as Douglas-fir forest, Ponderosa pine forest, Sagebrush steppe, and Mountain grasslands. Though not commonly used for forage or cover, it can serve as summer forage for livestock. Its low palatability may be due to the bitter salicylic aldehyde present in its volatile oil. While not a primary target of fire management, it is a dependable fire-survivor species.
