The Virginia Spiraea has tall stems that grow into an arch.  It has a cream-colored flower.  It reproduces by cloning  and grows in dense clumps.  It spreads in rock crevices and around rocks.  It blooms in June and July.
     It is unique because it grows along rocky, flood-washed riverbanks.  Flooding is necessary  to its survival because it destroys the taller woody plants and creates riverwash deposits.

 Reasons for its decline in population:

      Most of the Spiraea was eliminated by reservoir construction.  Although it needs flooding, severe flooding caused by dams would eliminate the species.  The state's largest population along the Gualey-Meadow Rivers is threatened by a proposed by hydroelectric plant.  One population, the only known Spiraea along a roadside, may be destroyed by highway maintenance and construction.
     A pest, the Copper Underwing Moth Caterpillar, has destroyed some to the populations.
 

Protection:

    Measures are being taken to keep recreational development and the building of dams from destroying the Spiraea's habitats.