Tor birchleaf spirea typically grows into a dense, compact, rounded mound (3’ X 3’). Tiny white flowers that are attractive to butterflies grow in small, flattened clusters in late spring on new wood. The foliage turns shades of orange, red, and purple in the fall. Birchleaf spirea is named for the shape of its leaves, which resemble those of the birch genus. More than 100 of these spirea are in the collection of the Chicago Botanic Garden.

The genus Spiraea consists of small to medium sized flowering shrubs with a fine-textured twiggy mounding habit. The small simple leaves are generally lance-shaped and held close to the branch. Spring to early summer abundant blooms tend to be in white or pink tones, depending on the species and/or cultivar. While individual flowers are quite small, they occur in clusters of inflorescence that can be very showy.

Spireas are best used in groupings in a shrub or mixed border, where they are valued as tough, reliable and easy-care performers in northern climates. The Chicago Botanic Garden's collection includes nearly 100 varieties and 3,000 plants.