Invasive Alien Species in Belgium: Spiraea alba

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Spiraea alba - Meadowsweet

French name:	Spirée blanche
Dutch name:	Witte spirea
Family:	Rosaceae

Group:	Vascular plants
Origin:	North America
Habitat:	terrestrial
Introduction:	agri- and horticulture

ISEIA Score : 11

Naturalization in Belgium

First observation in the wild:	1803
Invasion stage:	spread
Spatial distribution:	restricted

Invasiveness

Reproduction in the wild:	yes
Dispersion potential:	medium
Natural habitats:	high

More on invasiveness: Meadowsweet prefers moist to wet conditions and grows on soil with abundant nutrients and organic material (including peat). It is tolerant to temporary water-logged soils. It occurs mainly in riparian habitats such as river banks, wet meadows, swamps, ditches and bogs. This pioneer species needs full sunlight for optimal growth, flowering and fruiting but may survive under tree canopy. Seedlings have never been observed in the wild in Belgium. This shrub reproduces mainly vegetatively and may be propagated via garden waste or waterflow.

Distribution in Belgium

Established populations Biogeographic areas where the species is known to be established in the wild

	absent from district
	isolated populations (1-5 localities per district)
	widespread (>5 localities per district)

Endangered areas Biogeographic areas including Natura 2000 habitats that are likely to be invaded by the species (occurence of dense populations)

Biogeographic areas including Natura 2000 habitats that are likely to be invaded by the species (occurence of dense populations)

	low risk
	medium risk
	high risk

Endangered Natura 2000 habitats (

grasslands:	6430 6510
forest habitats:	91E0*

Impacts on Species

Predation / Herbivory:	low
Competition:	high
Disease transmission:	low
Genetic effects:	low

Impacts on Ecosystems

Nutrient cycling:	unknown
Physical alteration:	high
Natural successions:	high
Food web alteration:	low

More on impacts: Spiraea alba is a fast-growing rhizomatous species, propagating clonally. It forms stable and very dense shrub communities that can expand over large areas and displace native plant species. The dense cover of this plant prevents tree regeneration and inhibits the successional process towards a forest stage. This species is locally considered as a weed in its native range. Old dry plant shoots are vulnerable to early ignition and may be the cause of fires.

Data Source & References

Authors:	Branquart Etienne, Vanderhoeven Sonia, Van Landuyt Wouter, Van Rossum Fabienne, Verloove Filip
Published on:	13 December 2010
Last update:	13 December 2010

References:

AEF (2006)

Cartes provisoires de la distribution de néophytes en Wallonie.

Unpublished document.

Duvigneaud, J. (1975)

Les Spiréoidées (Rosaceae, Spiraeoidae) en Belgique et dans les régions voisines.

Natura Mosana 28: 33-55.

Hall, I.V., Murray, I.R. & Jackson, L.P. (1974)

The biology of Canadian weeds. 2, Spiraea latifolia.

Can. J. Plant Sci. 54:. l4l-147.

Lambinon, J., Delvosalle, L. & Duvigneaud, J. (2004)

Nouvelle fore de la Belgique, du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, du Nord de la France et des régions voisines.

Editions du Patrimoine du Jardin botanique national de Belgique, Meise.

Meilleur, A. , Veronneau, H. & Bouchard, A. (1994)

Shrub communities as inhibitors of succession in Southern Quebec.

Environmental Management 18: 907-921.

Morita, S. (2006)

Allelopathic potential of Spiraea species.

Journal of Weed Science and Technology 51(3): 172-177.

Morita, S., Hiradate, S., Fujii, Y. & Harada, J. (2005)

Cis-Cinnamoyl glucoside as a major plant growth inhibitor contained in Spiraea prunifolia.

Plant Growth Regulation 46: 125–131.

Paulus, B. (2009)

Etude de la régénération et de la sélection d’habitat de trois espèces de spirées exotiques (S. alba, S. douglasii et S. xbillardii).

Travail de fin d'études, FUSAGx, 66 pp.

Van Landuyt, W., Hoste, I., Vanhecke, L., Van den Bremt, P. Vercruysse, W. & De Beer, D. (2006)

Atlas van de Flora van Vlaanderen en het Brussels gewest.

Nationale Plantentuin en het Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek i.s.m. Flo.Wer vzw.

Verloove, F. (2006)

Catalogue of the Neophytes in Belgium (1800-2005).

Scripta Botanica Belgica 39, 89 pp.