Spirea
/spaɪˈriː.ə/noun
A genus of flowering shrubs in the rose family, or a plant in that genus.
Did you know?The name ultimately comes from Greek *speira*, meaning a coil or spiral, the same ancient root behind words tied to winding shapes and even military formations.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
speira
“a coil, twist, or wreath”
Late Latin
Latin
spira
“a coil, curve, or winding”
Medieval Latin
Latin
spiraea
“a plant with clustered, wreath-like flowers”
16th-17th Century
English
spirea
“a flowering shrub of the genus Spiraea”
Modern English
English
spirea
“a shrub or shrub genus cultivated for its sprays of small flowers”