Spiraea
/spaɪˈriːə/noun
A genus of flowering shrubs in the rose family, many of which are cultivated ornamentals.
Did you know?Spiraea comes from Greek speira, meaning a coil or wreath, the same root behind words tied to twisting, binding, and circular forms in ancient languages.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
speira
“a coil, twist, wreath, or band”
Late Latin
Latin
spiraea
“a plant name borrowed from Greek, likely referring to a shrub with clustered flowers”
16th Century
English
spiraea
“a botanical name used for certain shrubs and herbaceous plants”
Modern English
English
spiraea
“a genus of ornamental flowering shrubs in the rose family”